Tip #1: Set simple and attainable goals. One
surefire way to doom your exercise regime from the beginning is to
expect too much out of yourself. It can be really discouraging when you
fail to achieve a goal, so allow yourself to go slowly at first, and
set your sights on targets you know you can reach. You can make your
objectives more challenging down the road, but until you get into a
consistent, ongoing, and sustainable routine, work on achieving what
you know is possible for where you are right now. After all, five
consistent 25-minute workouts in which you feel successful are going to
be worth much more than one 60-minute workout that’s so challenging it
makes you quit.
Tip #2: Schedule it. Think
of your exercise times as part of your week. Schedule them the way you
would doctors’ appointments that you wouldn’t miss. And once you’ve
written the exercise “appointment” into your calendar, commit to
keeping it because you know it’s important for your health.
Tip #3: Find a buddy. Exercising
with a friend can make all the difference. An obvious reason is that
it’s more fun to have someone to hang out and laugh with while you’re
sweating and gasping for breath. But a friend also offers
accountability on those days when you’re less inclined to head to the
gym or go for your run. Knowing someone else is counting on you makes
it a lot easier to take that first step out the door.
Tip #4: Motivate yourself visibly and tangibly. Find
something that will act as an incentive to keep you going even when
you’re not excited about exercising—an invitation to your class
reunion, an advertisement for the place you’ll be visiting on your
vacation, a picture of yourself when you were trimmer and in better
shape. Then display it prominently, where you’ll see it frequently. Put
it on your fridge, or on the dashboard of your car, as a reminder of
why you’ve made this commitment to yourself and to your health.
Tip #5: Set up a reward system. Promise
yourself that after you’ve exercised consistently for a certain amount
of time (two weeks? three weeks?), you’ll reward yourself in some way.
Maybe you’ll buy something you’ve wanted, or have friends over for a
movie night, or plan some sort of special event for yourself—like
taking in a show or attending a game you’ve wanted to see.
Tip #6: Track your progress. Find some
way to monitor how well you’re sticking to your workout plan. There are
computer programs you can download for this, but a chart on the wall
can be just as effective. It doesn’t really matter how you do it, but
find a way to watch yourself get healthier: You can track inches,
pounds, strength, or even the amount of time spent working out. Success
can be as motivating as practically anything else, so track your
progress and then notice how much more willing you are to keep going
once you see how well you’re doing.
Tip #7: Make it fun. Although
some people find it hard to believe, it really ispossible to enjoy
exercise at least somewhat. So find small ways to make your workouts
more enjoyable (or less detestable). One suggestion is to get an iPod
and create different music mixes that get your blood flowing. Podcasts
and books on tape or CD can also help you more fully enjoy yourself
while working out.
Tip #8: Try something new. Another
way to make workouts more enjoyable is to mix a healthy dose of variety
into your exercise regimen, maybe even trying something new. Consider
taking a kickboxing (or dance or swim) class that will make at least
parts of the exercise feel less like drudgery.
Tip #9: Minimize the obstacles. When
thinking about the logistics and timing of your workout plan, make
things as easy on yourself as possible. Try to avoid setting up any
potential obstacles that could prevent you from keeping your scheduled
training time. For example, don’t create a schedule that requires you
to leave work early or interrupt a family dinner; that will just give
you one more excuse not to work out. Also, don’t choose a gym way
across town or a workout buddy you can’t count on to be consistent.
Instead, be thoughtful as you set up your plan and keep things simple
so that it seems as easy as possible to get to your workout—even if
you’re not always looking forward to the workout itself.
Tip #10: Get through the first few workouts. Keep
in mind that the first few times you begin to exercise again, it’s
probably not going to be easy. So, especially as you’re getting
started, emphasize the ideas on this list. Set your attainable goals,
schedule the first few workouts, get your buddy on board, find ways to
make the exercise fun, and then commit to simply making it through
these first few workouts. Implement a zero-tolerance “no excuses”
policy for yourself while you’re getting started. Then, once you’ve
established good workout habits and gotten used to the discipline
required to keep them up, it’ll be much easier to commit to doing what
you know is important for your overall health.
Sleepless Nights Stop Progress
-- By Laura Bofinger, Staff Writer
So you already know that a well-balanced diet and a regular exercise program are keys to your weight loss plan. But are you listening to that other recommendation you’ve heard more than once in your life? Get plenty of sleep. Recent medical studies show that sleep loss can increase hunger and affect your body’s metabolism in a way that makes weight loss more difficult. So if you’re making a good effort in your nutrition and fitness plans, you still might be able to improve your success with better sleep.
How Sleep Loss Affects Weight Loss
1. Hormone function affects the way fat cells respond to the food we eat. Cortisol is a hormone that is commonly released in response to physical or emotional stress. When we are deprived of sleep, cortisol is released at an increased level and makes us feel hungry even if we are full. As a result, people who continue to lose sleep on a regular basis will tend to experience hunger even when they have had an adequate amount of food.
2. Sleep loss results in less deep sleep, the kind that restores our energy levels. Losing deep sleep hours decreases growth hormone levels. Growth hormone is a protein that helps regulate the body’s proportions of fat and muscle in adults. With less growth hormone, we reduce the ability to lose fat and grow muscle.
3. With a loss of sleep, your body may not be able to metabolize carbohydrates as well, which leads to an increased storage of fats and higher levels of blood sugar. Excess blood sugar can lead to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance means that the body has trouble disposing of glucose in the liver and other tissues. It is a trigger for serious health problems such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type II diabetes.
4. A lack of sleep goes hand in hand with a lack of energy – not a new concept, but perhaps you’ve grown used to your daily levels of energy and don’t notice that you could gain more. Not only do we accomplish less with less sleep, we also don’t burn as many calories. The body’s reaction is to hoard calories as fat, making our weight loss goals more difficult than they need to be. Sleep is starting to sound pretty important now, isn’t it?
Why Are You Losing Sleep and What Can You Do About It?
Don’t add this information about sleep and weight loss as a stress factor in your life. Take charge and examine why you are losing sleep so that you can do something about it.
Some people choose to live with fewer sleeping hours simply because they think they can stretch more hours of activity in their day. If this is you, remember that a better night’s sleep may actually increase your productivity in a shorter amount of time throughout your day because you have more energy and can think more clearly than when you are tired. For others, sleep loss is a result of already being overweight, which has brought on sleep apnea, lower back pain, or depression and anxiety. There are many management options for such problems, some of which might require medical attention. Check out the following tips first. They are simple enough for anyone to try to help themselves improve their sleep.
Do’s
* Eat a healthy diet. A good SparkPeople reference is right here.
* Establish a regular exercise routine of 3-4 times per week, and do it well before bedtime.
* Try pre-bedtime rituals that relax you – warm baths, light reading, listening to calming music or recorded nature sounds.
* Create a peaceful sleep environment. Adjust the darkness to what works best for you. Make sure the temperature of the room is set to your comfort level.
* Give yourself sleep hours instead of trying to squeeze more activity into one day. Adequate sleeping hours will increase your productivity during waking hours.
Don’ts
* Don’t go to bed hungry, but don’t eat a big meal right before bedtime. Eating high protein food close to bedtime makes your body think it should be active and therefore keeps you awake.
* Don’t nap in the daytime if you have sleeping problems at night.
* Don’t take in caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol from the late afternoon and beyond.
* Don’t lie in bed agitated if you can’t sleep. After a half hour, move to a different room and do something relaxing until you feel sleepy again.
Realize that you need to listen to your body in determining how much sleep is right for you. Too much sleep can be just as unhealthy as too little sleep. Recognize that the sleep you get each night is just as important as the choices you make in eating and exercising as you achieve your weight loss goals.
Well, we're leaving here in the next 30 minutes for our vacation! I'll be back next weekend, I remembered to pack my weights so I could do my strength training along with my cardio while out there ;). See you all when I get back and have a wonderful weekend/week!!
Oh btw, I managed to lose another pound this week... woo hoo!!
Here we are mid-week now, so tell me... how are YOU doing on your fitness/healthy eating routine? Good I hope! So far so good here... although I did do something last night that I shouldn't have. I got a diet coke with my grilled chicken sandwich! I haven't had a diet coke in probably a good month or so... well now I know why I would get this nasty gunk in my throat that I felt I constantly needed to spit! It was the stuff that's in the diet coke that was doing it to me and to think I didn't even drink the whole thing!! I barely had like 4-6 sips of the stuff and that feeling came back! Now I know for sure I won't be going back to Diet Coke as a drink. That and take into the fact that it contains Aspartame *gags* (see a previous post on "sweeteners"). I wonder if the aspartame is what causes that nasty taste and feeling in my throat? In either case, ick. I'm sticking with my water for sure from now on... oh and my cup or 2 of coffee every other day :D Coffee is not bad for you btw, it's the stuff that you ADD to your coffee that you need to watch out for... keep that in mind next time you go prepare your cuppa, read the label.
I ran my 4 miles this morning and I think I'm improving on my stamina when it comes to running, I could've probably gone an extra one but I didn't want to be there that long since it's the same track the airmen use for their Fit Testing. I'll do my 30 minutes of elliptical work later this afternoon probably to complete my 60 minutes of exercise since I don't do weights today (Gotta rest them muscles so they'll recover and be ready to go again tomorrow!).
I've gotta do some packing today for our trip and I still have a whole heck of a lot of cleaning today, lol! I guess I better get started on it since it's not gonna clean itself !
Have a wonderfully productive day to all and watch what you eat!!
Exercising early in the morning "jump starts" your metabolism, keeping it elevated for hours, sometimes for up to 24 hours! As a result, you’ll be burning more calories all day long - just because you exercised in the morning.
Exercising in the morning energizes you for the day - not to mention that gratifying feeling of virtue you have knowing you’ve done something disciplined and good for you. (Much better than a worm!)
Studies have shown that exercise significantly increases mental acuity - a benefit that lasts four to ten hours after your workout ends. Exercising in the a.m. means you get to harness that brainpower, instead of wasting it while you’re snoozing.
Assuming you make exercise a true priority, it shouldn’t be a major problem to get up 30 to 60 minutes earlier - especially since regular exercise generally means a higher quality of sleep, which in turn means you’ll probably require less sleep. (If getting up 30 to 60 minutes earlier each day seems too daunting, you can ease into it with 10 to 20 minutes at first.)
When you exercise at about the same time every morning (especially if you wake up regularly at about the same time) you’re regulating your body's endocrine system and circadian rhythms. Your body learns that you do the same thing just about every day, and it begins to prepare for waking and exercise several hours before you actually open your eyes. That’s beneficial because:
Your body’s not “confused” by wildly changing wake-up times, which means waking up is much less painful. (You may even find that you don’t need an alarm clock most days.)
Hormones prepare your body for exercise by regulating blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow to muscles, etc.
Your metabolism, along with all the hormones involved in activity and exercise, begin to elevate while you're sleeping. As a result, you’ll feel more alert, energized, and ready to exercise when you do wake up.
Many people find that morning exercise has a tendency to regulate their appetite for the rest of the day. Not only do they eat less (since activity causes the release of endorphins, which in turn diminishes appetite), they also choose healthier portions of healthier foods.
People who consistently exercise find, sometimes to their great surprise, that the appointed time every morning evolves into something they look forward to. Besides the satisfaction of taking care of themselves, they find it’s a great time to plan their day, pray, or just think more clearly, things most of us often don’t get to do otherwise.
Exercising first thing in the morning is the most foolproof way to ensure that other things don’t overtake your fitness commitment, particularly if you have a hectic family life. (It’s so easy to wimp out in the evening, when we’re tired or faced with such tasks as rustling up dinner and helping with homework.)
More than 90% of those who exercise consistently have a morning fitness routine. If you want to exercise on a regular basis, the odds are in your favor if you squeeze your workout into the a.m.
Non-morning people can always trick themselves in the a.m. Having trouble psyching yourself up for a sunrise jog? Do what I did, tell yourself that you’ll still be so fast asleep that you won’t even remember, much less mind!
So here I am... again . This week marks the start of my 16th week of consecutive workout's. Usually I would've fallen off my wagon again, but this time is different. With my thyroid disorder finally getting treated I can finally see through clearer eyes (so to speak) and I feel different all around and with NO feeling of wanting to get off this wagon anytime soon!
I'm doing good so far today, I got up at 5:15am and was going to go out and run, but the weather looked a bit questionable with quite a wind gust going and the clouds looking like they wanted to wring out a few drops, lol. So instead of running for cardio like I usually do on Monday's, I ended up getting on my Elliptical trainer for about 45-50 minutes and then did my strength/weight training here at home afterwards (I always do my strength/weight training at home). Here's what I've consumed so far today:
Breakfast: Honey Bunches of Oats w/almonds | 1 cup lowfat 2% milk
Lunch: Turkey balogna sandwich on whole wheat bread | 1 cup Lentil Soup
Dinner: We're having Turkey burgers on whole wheat buns | Haven't decided what veggie to go with the burgers, but... yummo!
Snacks: 1 Orange and some Pita chips later .
I drank all 8 glasses of my water today and on my 9th right now... I can't help it! I force myself to drink consistently and especially since I workout so rigorously, I have to replenish everything I sweat out.
Hope everyone is doing good, I should be able to post a few more times this week before we leave for our week vacation on Saturday! TTFN!
What do you think about when you exercise? Are your thoughts positive ("dang, I feel good!") or negative ("why can't I lose more weight?")? Noticing your thoughts may be important when it comes to exercise, since negative thoughts can actually keep you from a consistent exercise program. You don't necessarily have to become a walking smile, but figuring out distorted thinking patterns can make exercising easier and, yes, even more fun.
Perfectionism - Also known as unrealistic expectations. If you berate yourself for losing only five pounds instead of ten, you may be guilty of this kind of distorted thinking. Why not give yourself credit for your successes? If you've started exercising, that alone is cause for celebration and, if you're seeing some results, that's even better.Everything you do that makes you healthier is a success. Focus on that and take some time to make sure your goal is realistic.
The Blame Game - Are you having trouble exercising because your gym is too far away? Or because the weather's bad? Blaming external factors makes it easier to avoid taking responsibility for your own choices. If you're not working out, it's up to you to figure out why you're not sticking to your program. Maybe you don't like going to a gym or maybe your workouts are too hard. Once you figure out the problem, you can take steps to rectify the situation. Explore your reasons for not exercising so you can change your approach.
I'm a Loser - Many of us equate self-worth with success. Losing weight means we're good, failing to lose weight means we're bad. If you feel like a failure all the time, it's almost inevitable that you will fail. Remember: what you look like is just one aspect of who you are. Learning to focus on who you are and not just what your body looks like takes practice. You can start by exploring your body image and learn ways to improve it.
I Have the Wrong Body - Have you ever looked at someone and wondered, "Why can't I look like that person?" Mat Luebbers, About's Swimming Guide, offers some excellent advice in his article, Self-Esteem and Confidence: "your abilities are unique (as are those of every human being)...and cannot truly be compared to others." We all have a certain body shape and that shape may not conform to the current definition of "perfect." Instead of tearing yourself down, boost your own ego by focusing on your strengths and on the things you love about your body.
I Hate My Hip/Buns/Belly/Thighs - If you've ever looked in the mirror and picked apart every visible flaw with the precision of a brain surgeon, take a step back from the mirror and see yourself as a whole. We all have a body part we love to hate, but remember that your body allows you to walk, run, squat, and jump. That belly that seems to attract every calorie you eat serves to protect your spine when you move, sit or stand. Your body works as a whole, so try to appreciate all you can do in a day because of your thighs, hips, and belly (regardless of how they look).
The Antidote to Negative Self-Talk
It sounds simplistic, but beating negative thinking involves noticing your thoughts and changing them to something more positive. Try this activity recommended by Daniel R. Ball, in his article, "Cognitive Strategies:" Carry around a pocketful of paper clips. Every time you have a negative thought about yourself, hook the paper clips together in a chain. As Mr. Ball states, "often clients become motivated to change because they are surprised at the length of the chain at the end of the day."
At first, just noticing the negative thoughts may be difficult, they happen so fast. But, as you practice, you'll be able to feel them coming on and stop them before they take hold. Instead of thinking, "I'll never finish this workout," try, "All I have to do is try my best." You can even take out your paperclip chain and take one away for every good thought you have...at least until your office manager sends out an email asking who stole all the paperclips.
Okay figured I'd go ahead and post since it's been QUITE a while since my last REAL entry, lol! So I was going to the gym up until about a month ago when my membership ran out at the one I was going to and even though I could go on a month to month payment method with the price of gas these days I opted out since it's about a 10-15 minute drive back and forth everyday PLUS I'd have to pay an extra $10 a month for my daughter since she's out of school for the summer and would have to go with me and my son (wouldn't have to pay for him since he's still under 5 and goes to the baby/toddler room). As much as I'll miss a lot of things and some people from that place I had to make a decision and frankly we could use the extra money anyway.
This does not mean I stopped working out though ;) No sir/ma'am! I started going to the gym on base (which is under going renovations and is limited on cardio equipment and weight's), but instead of looking for something to do in that place I took my running to the track outside and actually it's not really a track since it's on the road, but it's what the Airmen use for their Fit Tests... so why not ;) I've made my way to running about 4-5 miles in 30 minutes and occasionally every other day I get on my elliptical trainer here at home which does come in handy. As for weight training, I do my own strength training here at home with my weights/stability ball/and resistance band. Yes, I've improvised and saved money AND I'm starting to see some real results!
I've been on my medication for my hypothyroidism for 3 months now and my metabolism is finally starting to work itself back to what it used to be before I got pregnant. I have MUCH more energy during the day to do the things I need to do and play with my kids and my husband :D I'm no skinny minnie and I don't ever plan on being one, I love the curves God, motherhood, and my ethnicity has given me, lol! There have been MANY days when I just wanted to take the morning off of running or strength training because I was feeling either tired or just plain lazy... but still I pressed on, maybe it's the fear of labeling myself as a quitter or maybe it's the soldier that I once was within me yelling at me to keep going. Whatever the case I forced myself to push through the pain and when the day was done I felt better for myself.
There are so many women here on this base that constantly complain about wanting to lose weight and whatnot and I have invited many to get up in the mornings and go for a run with me, but no one here wants to get up early and do it and frankly I don't like doing it at night because it gets too bloody hot and the lovely little gnats come out to feast on your sweaty body, lol. Yes, I agree 5:30am is too early for most people, but if you want something bad enough you'll do what you have to do to achieve it... even if it means sacrificing an extra hour or 2 of sleep (which I balance out by going to bed an hour or 2 earlier than I used to). This way I don't have to worry about leaving my kids somewhere and I start my day off on a good note and no I don't screw it up by eating bad, lol. I consciously watch what I'm putting into my mouth and I read EVERY label, not just the calories. I don't write down my calories anymore because I pretty much know what is what and if I don't know it or I question it then I don't eat it, I do have the occasional "free day" to eat what I want, but when I do it's ALWAYS in moderation. I don't want to screw up a whole week's worth of exercise by being a glutton ;)
So here I am... almost 15lbs down since mid March and I'm going slow and steady, but I'm getting results... if I'm not losing weight I can definitely see I'm losing inches and toning all over my body.
So there you have it. Now I've caught you (whoever may read this) up on myself and what I've been doing.
Monday - Cardio/Strength Training
Tuesday - Cardio/Strength Training
Wednesday - Cardio
Thursday - Cardio/Strength Training
Friday - Cardio/Strength Training
Saturday - Rest or light Cardio
Sunday - Rest
This has been my routine for the last 2 months and I'm satisfied with it. Good luck to all of you who are having a hard time, it's a long hard road... but it'll be worth it in the end to have your health and your life back *Ü*
Artificial Sweeteners... just when you thought sugar was bad for you...
Artificial Sweeteners:
Seems the whole world is on artificial sweeteners and we can't exist without saccharine or NutraSweet or Splenda. Some people choose them because they actually think an artificial sweetener is healthier than sugar. It is not. All artificial sweeteners are poisons. And isn't it ironic that most people who are using these sugar-free substitutes are overweight and don't seem to lose weight. It's no coincidence. Are artificial sweeteners helping us fight the battle of the bulge?
You grab a diet soda each day to help you lose weight; at this point, it has simply become a habit. Yet, there are no studies which prove that diet sodas help us lose weight! In actuality, the very opposite is likely true. The sweetness of the soda tends to stimulate our appetite, especially for more sweets. A recent study found that people who drank diet soda had a greater likelihood of being obese and overweight, even over people who drank regular soda! Why is that? Diet soda triggers our craving for sugar.
In addition, diet soda lulls one into a false sense of security that it's okay to eat something else. How many people have you seen drink a diet soda with a dessert loaded with sugar, fat and empty white flour!
As if that wasn't enough, diet soda also triggers our body to STORE more fat!
So there you are, thinking you're doing the right thing and thinking you're going to lose weight. You drink your diet soda, that makes you want something sweet, you figure you deserve a little something since you saved all those calories, you get a dessert or a little something extra, you end up eating more calories in the day, and then your body holds on to the fat instead of releasing it. That sounds like a plan!
And what are we fighting against here? Remember that a gram sugar only contains 4 measly calories (a teaspoon is about 15; a tablespoon is 45). While sugar has it's own issues, if you're going to indulge, on occasion, make it real.
Note: if you're diabetic, then you have reasons to seek alternate sweet sources, but choose your alternate sweetener wisely. There are many natural sweeteners that are much safer than any artificial sweeteners. Best bet, once you stop eating so many sweets you will stop craving sweets and be healthier for it. Diabetics also need to watch intake of breads and other empty carbohydrates that can raise insulin levels.
Aspartame a/k/a NutraSweet a/k/a Equal breaks down to phenylalanine and aspartic acid in our hot bodies and when heated. The methanol in Aspartame converts into formaldehyde in our bodies. Formaldehyde is a poison known to damage the immune and nervous system as well as cause genetic damage. Aspartame breaks down the protective coating surrounding neurons in our brain; this causes a break in the blood-brain barrier which allows toxins to move directly into the bloodstream. Asparatame should never be given to children. People with PKU (phenylketonuria) should never use it either. Almost half of aspartame itself is a toxin, technically an excitotoxin, Aspartate. About 10% of the population has a tendency to MS but never actually have the symptoms, and these people can be pushed into full blown MS with continual usage of products with Aspartame. "Recent studies have also shown that even a single exposure.." can have long-term effects. ('Sweet Misery') Since it is in thousands of products, it's easy to consume a lot of this and over a longer period of time, this constant ingestion will lead to holes in your brain, illness and death. CHEC on Aspartame. Consuming products with Aspartame may lead to:
Aspartame can also be under the name Neotame, Aspertame (misspelling of Aspartame).
Acesulfame K is Acesulfame Potassium and found in Sweet One, Swiss Sweet and Sunnet and is called E Number in Europe for the code E950 listed in ingredients. To mask the bitter aftertaste, additional chemicals like Sodium Ferulate or other artificial sweeteners may be used with products that contain Ace K. Found in many diet sodas.
Sugar Twin or Cyclamates is another artificial sweetener. This chemical has been banned in the U.S. since 1970 based upon the possible link with cancer.
When Saccharin was found to cause cancer in 1977, the U.S. made an exception, as long as Saccharin affixed a warning, and it was not banned because there were no alternative sweeteners for diabetics at the time. Saccharin or Sweet 'n Low has been around the longest of any artificial sweetener and has had the most studies on it's possible effects. It is much sweeter than sugar. Low on the glycemic index, but saccharin may lead to:
* cancer
Splenda or Sucralose have the least amount of studies surrounding this chemical (under 100!) (yet it's in EVERYTHING!)and what little research has been done shows that it may lead to:
* Diarrhea
* Shrunken Thymus Glands
* Enlarged Liver
* Enlarged Kidneys
* Atrophy of Lymph follicles in the Spleen and Thymus
* Increased cecal weight
* Reduced growth rate
* Decreased red blood cell count
* Hyperplasia of the pelvis
* Extension of the pregnancy period
* Aborted pregnancy
* Decreased fetal body weights
* Lower placenta weights
* other dangers because it has small amounts of toxins: pesticides, metals, even lead
While no sweetener is not without it's controversy, artificial sweeteners can be quite damaging to our health and may cause serious illness. It's best to avoid them completely.
When snack time comes around, I find that using one of those Ziplock Snack Bags come in very handy for setting aside 1 portion size of the snack I'm eating. Read the label to see how many crackers or chips or whatever it is you're snacking on to make sure you only eat that portion size, put the portions into the snack bag and then put the rest of the bag or box safely away in a cupboard so you're not tempted to want to eat more (out of sight out of mind).
Btw, I do not recommend eating chips!! They're loaded in fat and tend to contain only empty calories not the type that keep you going till your next meal.
!
. This week marks the start of my 16th week of consecutive workout's. Usually I would've fallen off my wagon again, but this time is different. With my thyroid disorder finally getting treated I can finally see through clearer eyes (so to speak) and I feel different all around and with NO feeling of wanting to get off this wagon anytime soon!