How we stack up

Ok I see all of these posts about different ways to get healthy, and let me say I am so glad you are trying your best to get healthy. Honestly congrats!!! Your body deserves to function the way God intended and you will love being healthy! 

I get asked often how Plexus stacks up against all of these different products. 

Let me preface this with saying I was the one who has actually TRIED all of these products. Yes, I have. So these are MY experiences and opinions. 

Here's how:

Advocare: ok awesome, I did the 24 day challenge. There are a ton of different things to take and an energy drink called spark. Here's what I found out, it's sweetened with sucralose, Aka SPLENDA. Eww. Honestly, here are the ingredients from their website. 

Not to mention the 120mg of caffeine. (That's 2 cans of soda, just fyi) no wonder it gives you energy.... So I also had to drink a meal replacement drink a few times, take fiber, a cleanse, a catalyst, and some other stuff. I had to follow a daily planner, I was so confused. By day 24 I was thankful for it to be over with! I haven't had soda in 8yrs, and I had caffeine withdrawals from the spark when I was done.

On to Le-vel thrive:

Oh goodness. There's patches, pills, and shakes. I did the 3 day challenge. At $10 per day, I couldn't imagine paying anywhere from $100 for just 16 meal replacement and some vitamins to $190 for enough shakes to last me a month and the patch thingy and some vitamins. And these are the SALE prices for your autoshipment. Which you HAVE to get. And to cancel it is like trying to call The president and have him cancel christmas. That was a nightmare. I also love that in order to see prices you must sign up as a customer. SHADDDDYYYYYYYYY. Just to get the pictures of the prices, the person who they put me under has already started blowing up my phone. Here we go again... Just realized you can't cancel until after 60 days are up, that's awesome! 

 

Ok on to the new trend of wrapping yourself healthy. 

It (doesn't) works wraps! I actually signed up to sell these and had 0 success. I see the photos of people sucking it in, photoshopping, and MY FAVORITE not even the same person in the after photo. My Upline was the top in the company, and she moved me around from her to someone else so she could promote up, thanks! There were shakes, drink mixes, pills, cosmetic things (toner, face wash, a gel to make cellulite go away) wraps, now energy drinks. The greens, their daily vegetable/fruit powder that you're supposed to mix up and drink, it NEVER DISSOLVED! Gag!!! The vitamins were chalky, and lord forbid if you did t get enough water to swallow it down... The fat fighters were pretty neat, they make you poop like no tomorrow. Ok so these wraps though, they're supposed to "dissolve the fat of the area you put them on and you are supposed to pee it out" that is directly out of the developers mouth. I'm sorry say what?! That doesn't even make sense!!! NOW REMEMBER I WAS A PART OF THIS COMPANY! Now they started adding cosmetic products like face wash hair vitamins. And now their super YUMMY (eye roll) energy drink.  

You mean only 100mg of caffeine?! And only 27g of sugar?! And it says I should t drink more than TWO a day?! Yeah, that doesn't sound terrible or anything. And you get 24 in one case, so typically you'll need 2 a day and that will last you 12 days. (These are new and I have NOT tried them) anyways back to the new skin care line...

So this in turn according to them, makes them cosmetic. THE WRAPS ARE A COSMETIC FIX YALL! Like putting a band-aid on a open head wound. MAY STOP A TINY BIT OF BLEEDING, but it won't FIX your actual issue. It's not going to give you ripped abs. It's not going to wrap away your health issues, it's not possible.

Oh I forgot prices of this. If you only want to buy once you have to pay $100 for 4 wraps, but if you sign up for their Loyal

Customer program, you get it for a distributor price. (Ummm....) oh, but you have to buy for 3 months and if you cancel early they charge your card for the difference between the retail price and your discounted rate. Yep, that's FUN! 

Again I'm not saying these products DO NOT WORK, before all of you people start tearing me apart, I'm stating facts and images off of the COMPANY websites. 

Now, I have found Plexus. And my product regimens are easy, no meal replacements, just a simple pink drink that tastes good and actually mixes up, no added funky sugars, naturally flavored and sweetened with stevia. Yes we have vitamins, protein shakes, a pink drink, and an assortment of pills to take that are completely optional. Most Products range from $25-$40 and there is nothing over $100(per item) we are NOT a weight loss company. Let me make that VERY clear. Now most people have amazing weight loss testimonies, and I personally have lost 65lbs(even while being pregnant during that time) there is more than weight loss to my testimony, no reflux, no acne, no extreme hair falling out, no more pre diabetic, no more stomach problems after I eat, no more fast food addiction, no more uncontrollable sadness. No joke, I feel 100x better than I ever have! 

There is less than 2% caffeine in Plexus Slim, so you won't have a sugar crash, you don't have to walk around wearing a silly wrap or patch. You can drink your drink and go on with your life. No set schedules, no having to drink your food and be starving yourself. You can use one product or many. Nothing has came close to this company pay wise and in products that actually work. OH and on top of that IF you try it and it was not what you thought, there's a 60 day money back guarantee. You can purchase 3 ways, retail(full price, one time only) preferred (autoships until you say cancel, no minimums) and wholesale, which you can just get because you are CHEAP (like me) and with that you have the opportunity to sell it IF YOU WANT. Not required, just optional. No parties, no inventories, no quotas to hit to receive an extra discount or pay raise. Just easy peasy. 

Thanks for reading what I have to say. You can't expect to be healthy in 24 days, you can't wrap away your health issues, you can't patch (seriously that thing was FREAKIN ITCHY!) your body to better health. I'm all for getting healthy, but do it from the inside out and be patient because it didn't get that way over night and you won't fix it over night. BE REALISTIC. Not even a week of drinking plexus will get you healthy. I'm not saying it WILL GET YOU HEALTHY, but it has for me. I was patient and changed my lifestyle. I still don't work out a lot, but I do some. I do eat what I want but I don't eat fast food. I stay far away from caffeine. I don't eat junk. I have gotten healthy by using plexus as my catalyst for change. The probiotic and the Plexus slim are something I don't go a day with out. Even my 4m old is on our probiotic by her doctors suggestion. I'm thankful right now because I'm the 5 days of having her on it, she's a whole new baby. 

Feel free to check out my website www.plexusbymegan.com or shoot me an email Megan.tapley@aol.com. 

Letting Life get in the way

I get it, you are busy!

I understand that you have 100293729357208 things going on. I do too, I promise. My life isnt easy peasy.

What i want you to know is that you are worth take 3 minutes out of the day to work on yourself.

I want you to know you are worth everything!
You are worth it!

Say it with me!

I am worth changing my life. I am worth making time for myself. I am worth more than I think I am.

You know what else You are worth?

You are worth nothing if you give up. That is what you are telling yourself. I am not worth it. When you quit your diet or work out, you are saying I am not worth this anymore. Be worth it.

Change your life. Be great, Start somewhere and do not give up on making you a better you.

Kisses!!

Weight loss, Wait loss

Weight loss:

losing stored body fat

Wait loss:

losing out on an opportunity because you waited because you were scared of the potential outcome.



I deal with both every single day.
I watch people lose weight because they trusted me.
I watch people gain their lives back because i showed them some life changing products.
I also watch people wait because they are full of excuses, as known as fear.
they are scared that they are going to waste their money. they are scared that they are going to fail.
They are waiting for the "right time". What on earth is the right time? When you are hating your body to the point you are depressed? Or when you are out shopping and the size you used to wear is now too small? Or is it when you face your fear and punch it in the face?

I want everyone to know there is a difference between waiting and weighing. Stop waiting for a sign and start making your own destiny.

I promise you wont regret it.

Kisses!!!

My Why

Why do I do what I do?

Why do I strive for greatness?

Why do I want to make sure everyone around me is successful?

WHY?!

Why on earth am I so passionate about Plexus?

I want to share with you why.

Lillian and Kynslie. Those 2 people are why. I want to show them that I can do what it takes to be home with them. I want to show them that health is important to living a long life. I want to be there when they have kids and get married and graduate college, not in that order preferably! I want to know that my girls will be taken care of when they are ready to go to college. I want to make them proud. I missed 6 years of Kynslie's life working nonstop. I broke her heart many times with I'm sorry baby girl, mommy has to work yet again. I refuse to put my job before my family ever again. I want to be great. Yes, I may move slowly up the ranks, but at least im not working my life away any more. I have lost a lot of weight with these products. BUT that will never be why i do anything. My family is what inspires me to be a better me. I refuse to surround myself with people who are negative. I will not let anyone bring me down. I will not accept failure. I will not accept being anything but amazing. I find it hard to understand why its ok to work 40 years at a company, building someone else's dream and still be broke, but if you work for yourself for 4 years to become successful then you're an idiot. Why is it ok to go to work to pay for your house and car that you only spend a few hours in a day? why are these things normal, but working from home for yourself not? Change your thinking to change your life. I will not build someone else's dream anymore. I will build my family's dream. You can mock me, laugh at me, block me, but you will not bring me down.

Kisses!

GIVING UP

IF YOU GIVE UP YOU WILL NEVER BE SUCCESSFUL.

PERIOD.

LET ME SAY IT AGAIN.

ONCE YOU GIVE UP, YOU ARE SAYING I AM OKAY WITH FAILING.

DO YOU HONESTLY UNDERSTAND THAT?

DO YOU KNOW THAT EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AND THAT IF YOU WANT TO BE HEALTHY YOU CAN NOT GIVE UP ON YOUR BODY?

DID YOU KNOW THAT CHANGING YOUR DIET AND EXERCISE IS NOT ALWAYS GOING TO WORK?

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR BODY MAY BE HOLDING ON TO YOUR STORED FAT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT EATING ENOUGH?

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP SODAS TO LOSE WEIGHT?

DID YOU KNOW THAT ASPERTAINE IN DIET SODAS CAN MAKE YOUR BODY HOLD ON TO FAT?

DID YOU KNOW THAT SUCRALOSE IS NOT A HEALTHY SUGAR SUPPLEMENT?

I WANT YOU TO SUCCEED. I DO. THAT IS WHY I WILL NOT TAKE YOU GIVING UP. YOU ARE BETTER THAN RESIGNING TO FAILURE.

30 easy health tips

Ive been looking around the internets, yeah I procrastinate doing my household chores to help yall out! YOU ARE SOOOO WELCOME! OH!! And sorry honey. I promise after this post ill finish laundry!

Anyways....! So here are 30 easy tips to a healthy lifestyle.!

1. Instead of indulging in your sweet tooth cravings, think fruit first. It will satisify your cravings with out pushing you over the calorie edge! So resist that chocolate cake siren, and instead enjoy a sliced apple with a tablespoon of nut butter (like peanut or almond) or fresh fig halves spread with ricotta. Then rest easy knowing you're still on the right, healthy track.
2. Find yourself a workout buddy or a fitness friend. An accountability partner will keep you motivated and inline with your fitness goals.
3. While there are heaps of good-for-you foods out there, some key ingredients make it a lot easier to meet your weight-loss goals. Next grocery store run, be sure to place these three diet-friendly items in your cart: balsamic vinegar (it adds a pop of low-cal flavor to veggies and salads), in-shell nuts (their protein and fiber keep you satiated), and fat-free plain yogurt (a creamy, comforting source of protein). Plus, Greek yogurt also works wonders as a natural low-calorie base for dressings and dips—or as a tangier alternative to sour cream. Talk about a multitasker!
4. After a work out, relax in a cold bath to relieve post fitness aches, for 10-15 minutes. Yes its going to be cold. But i would much rather soak in a cold tub of water than be sore the next day and use it as an excuse to skip working out again.
5. BUY COMFORTABLE SHOES. 
6. Make an awesome playlist to work out and run to. It doesnt all have to be pump you up music, it can be soothing music too! Find what works for you. 
7. Weighing: we all have a love hate relationship with the scale. When you weigh, whether it is daily or weekly, make sure you weigh first thing in the morning before eating or drinking or beginning your daily activities. 
8. Watch your portions. Your meat should not take up over half of your plate. Your plate should be half veggies or fruit!
9. Alcohol. Now i am not saying quit drinking all together. But remember that alcohol is high in sugar and calories, and those count too! Drink a glass of water between your cocktails so that you do not over indulge and to avoid a nasty hangover!
10. When you get ready to run, eat about 200-250 calories 90 minutes before you run. Your body needs the fuel to burn. (this is based on a 5k or 10k run)
11. It takes 3500 calories for your body to gain a pound of fat. Its ok to have a cheat day every now and then
12. When you go running, take a ipod, your id (just in case something happens to you) and wear sunglasses!
13. Drink half your weight in water. (200 lbs = 100 oz)
14. Worried about over eating at a weekend party? eat a 100 calorie snack before you go to cut down on your snacking.
15. Jazz up your food to keep it from getting boring! spices, lemon juice, herbs. Most of these contain 0 calories and they make your diet fun again!
16. Increase your exercise by 5 to 10% once it starts to feel natural.
17. enjoy your ice cream topped with fruit instead of the calorie ridden toppings!
18. Swap your shoes out every 300-350 miles. Yes they are comfy and fit just right, but you are not doing your body any good holding on the them.
19. Yoga sports bras are not made for running. Get the right kind of sports bras to keep your body from hurting after running!
20. Side stitches: weve all had them. and they hurt! to ease them, take your fist and press it below your rib cage while take 10 steps and breathing from your belly. In about 30 seconds you should feel some relief.
21. Shake your grove thang for an hour when you're sick of your treadmill or elliptical.  For every hour you shake it, youll burn 300-600 calories!
22. So your significant other, bff and co workers dont like your new healthy diet. They always want pizza or baked goods. You can enjoy those, just order a pizza with lots of veggies and easy on the cheese. Or indulge in baked fruit with cinnamon. 
23. Buy the single serving bags of chips if you want to indulge in carbs! The big bag wont be empty as quickly and your brain will want to finish the whole bag! Smaller bag, less carbs.
24. Take a break for lunch. Make a specific time to eat so that you wont mindlessly grave on your food.
25. Wear sunscreen while working out this summer. your body will thank you for it later. 
26. When you need that 3pm snack, reach for the 100 calorie snack packs or some crisp veggies. The crunch of the crisp veggies will give your brain the same effect as eating a bag of carbloaded chips
27. Invest in chaffing sticks. You can get them on amazon for like $9. keeps those thighs from getting that super comfy (sarcasm) rash. you can thank me later!
28. If you are in a rush and are stopping through the drive thru, opt for a salad instead of fries. Grilled chicken instead of fried chicken. 
29. Once you reach your goal, dont quit the gym or workouts. You still need to maintain your new healthy body.
30. Whatever you do, do not give up. Giving up will always result in failure.

OH and an extra tip! Because i honestly believe in Plexus products, add them to your fitness routine to help you get where you want to be. Slim can help with cravings. Boost can give you more energy to work out. Block can block carbs when you want to indulge in a deliciously large dinner. Bioclease will oxygenate your blood and clean you out. Probio5 will get your gut back in track. Accelerator+ will boost your metabolism. Xfactor will be your supercharged multivitamin with aloe to help you absorb the good things you are putting in your body and we even have a chewable for kiddos! Fast relief cream and capsules to aide you in relieving the soreness from your work outs! and p96 for your protein and snack needs, available in chocolate and vanilla! 

FLAVORED WATERS!!! YUMMMMYYYYYYY!!!!

Drinking water is probably the best thing you can do for your body. Well it is... no questions asked. But lets be honest... There is only so much plain water you can drink. Most people are looking for a no calorie drink, with natural flavors and no funky gunky aftertaste, so I have looked all over and found some recipes for Detox Water. All the flavor, no calories, tastes great. Sounds like a winner right?!

Lemon and mint water

Eat Yourself Skinny

Lemon Water with Fresh Mint

INGREDIENTS

• 2 quarts water
• Juice of one lemon
• 2 lemons, thinly sliced
• Ice
• Few sprigs of mint

Strawberry Spa Water

Coffee and Quinoa 

This summertime drink feels so luxurious and refreshing, you'll think you're in your own home spa. It's perfect for brunches or baby showers, or just to get some extra antioxidants. Whip up a pitcher when strawberries go on sale!

Author: Erica

Yields: 4-6 glasses

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1 pitcher filtered water
• ice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add strawberries and water to pitcher. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or up to overnight.
2. Add ice just before serving. Enjoy!

Citrus Water

Blogilates

Natural Belly Slimming Detox Water:

1-2 Liters water

1 cucumber

1 lemon

1 orange

10-15 fresh mint leaves

handful of ice

Why this combo?

1. Cucumber: contains citrulline which is an amino acid that has been shown to help our liver and kidneys get rid of ammonia which is a by product of the proteins our bodies burn for energy.

2. Water: helps flush toxins and waste through our system while keeping us hydrated.

3. Lemon: stimulates the digestive track so it’s helpful if you have constipation, heartburn, or gas.

4. Mint: helps you digest effectively because it improves the flow of bile from the liver to the gallbladder to the small intestine to break down dietary fats. It also helps relax cramped up stomach muscles.

5. Orange: contains flavonoids in the peel and juice that stimulate the immune system and protects against a fungi/pests while helping to reduce cholesterol levels.

Flavored Ice Cubes

These look so yummy!!! (droollllll)

Strawberry:

Puree fresh or frozen strawberries and mix in a small amount of filtered water. The consistency should be thick but pourable.  Fill ice cubes trays with the puree and place in the freezer until frozen.

Basil:

Fill the ice cubes trays half way with filtered water and place in the freezer for 20-30 minutes. Remove and top the partially frozen cubes with fresh chopped basil, then fill with additional filtered water as needed. Place back in the freezer until frozen.

Pomegranate:

Take a couple tablespoons of pomegranate seeds and place them in a small amount of filtered water. Using the edge of a knife crush the seeds to release the flavorful juices. Pour the mixture into the ice cube trays, toss a few additional pomegranate seeds in each cavity, and place in the freezer until frozen.

Pineapple or Raspberry:

Puree fresh or frozen pineapple chunks and mix in a small amount of filtered water. The consistency should be thick but pourable.  Fill ice cubes trays with the puree and place in the freezer until frozen.

For the raspberry cubes, follow the same directions as above.

Blueberry or Blackberry:

Puree fresh or frozen blueberries and mix in a small amount of filtered water. The consistency should be thick but pourable.  Fill ice cubes trays with the puree and place in the freezer until frozen.

For the blackberry cubes, follow the same directions as above.

Lemon or Mint:

Freshly squeeze 2-4 lemons. Combine the lemon juice with a small amount of filtered water. Fill ice cube trays with the juice mixture, sprinkle with dried lemon peel granules, and place in the freezer until frozen.

For the mint flavored ice cubes – fill the ice cubes trays half way with filtered water and place in the freezer for 20-30 minutes. Remove and top the partially frozen cubes with fresh chopped mint leaves, then fill with additional filtered water as needed. Place back in the freezer until frozen.

Flavored icecube recipes from bystephanielynn.com

Last but not least.... BIKINI WATER!

THINGS YOU WILL NEED:

• Drink containers or pitchers (they got the ones in the photos from walmart)
• Fruit and/or herbs
• Cutting board
• Sharp cutting knife
• Ice 
• Water
• Stir spoon 

GET TO CHOPPING:

• Thinly slice your fruits {leaving the skins on} and put them into the container.NOTE: Take out any seeds. Swallowing a lemon seed was no fun. True story.
• Gently crush the herbs you want to use and add them to the pitcher.
• Fill the pitcher half way with the fruits of your choice. {Simple folks, the bigger the container the more fruit you will need}
• Fill the pitcher the rest of the way with ice. 
• Add water.
• Let sit a minimum of one hour. {Overnight is best}
• Drink. DRINK!

DRINK THIS WITH IN 48 HOURS! SO DRINK IT WITH IN THEN OR TOSS IT OUT!

UPDATE: Want to step the flavor impact up a notch?! Use the spoon and smash the fruits a little bit once they are in the pitcher to release some of the juices. Smash a little... smash a lot! This makes a HUGE difference!

 recipe from Just A Beautiful Life


I hope you love these recipes and they give your water an awesome kick! Let me know in the comments what you think about them!! If yall love them let me know, and I'll write another post with more recipes!

Stay Fit and Fabulous!

Happy life

I haven't posted pretty much all month. No reason why, just haven't felt up to it. I am still enjoying being home with Lily and Kynslie at night, and working my business all day. I am really happy. I can't actually remember the last time I have said I was happy. I have always worked out of the home, next week on Monday would have been my 6 year anniversary with Payless. It took me 6 months to step back in to one of the stores I used to work in. I don't miss it, at all. I don't miss being yelled at for things i had no control over. I don't miss having to deal with customers who hated me for not giving them what they wanted because the company didn't send us enough. I don't miss having to make sure my employees worked enough to cover what they needed. I don't miss working over 60 hours a week plus a 2 hour travel time every day from home. I don't miss not being able to cooking dinner and spend time with Kynslie after school. I feel like a real mom. Many people don;t understand what I went through at my job. From being yelled at for things I couldn't control by my boss AND employees AND customers to being harassed for being pregnant. I wasn't allowed days off for months at a time. I worked sick all the time. I literally nearly worked myself to death for no reason. i was written up for going to my daughter birthday party. I wasn't making overtime when i was working over 40 hours a week. If i sat down and added it all up, the company would probably owe me at least a thousand dollars just in overtime i wasn't paid, thanks to my lovely boss. I over worked myself. For 5 and a half years I worked myself to the bone. I thought that was the only way to survive. I didn't know there was a way to be able to stay home and being a mom and make real money. I honestly thought the only way to be a stay at home mom was to marry rich. I couldn't see myself ever doing that, that's not my lifestyle. That's not me. I still hate myself for working 5 and and a half years of Kynslie's childhood away. I didn't realized how much i missed out on her life. Those are years I will never get back, and that makes me sick. Kudos to the parents who work out of the home. I plan on going to college this fall. I plan on getting my college degree. I quit college to work more when my mom was sick so that I could help take care of her. Do i regret that? Heck no! I spent the last few months of my mom's life with her instead of with my nose buried in books. I have no clue what to I want to do though! Business? Teaching? I have no clue!

The whole point of this post is to say I spent $35 on a business opportunity last year. I didn't really do it to earn money, i did it because i am cheap and refused to pay retail for products that work amazingly for me. I didn't start to become a stay at home mom, that never ever crossed my mind before hand. I didn't start to lose weight, i started to get help with my acid reflux. I started to get healthy for my daughter after they found an ulcer in the exact same place where my moms cancer was. The business part fell in my lap. I am very fortunate that i have an income that i get to make from the comfort of my recliner. I have a job that i don't have to get up and go in to every single day, I get promoted for working hard. I get paid for my efforts. I basically get to write my own checks. I don't have to worry about scheduling my life around a work schedule. I actually get to put my family first! I am so thankful for Plexus. I am thankful i decided my health was worth the $35 investment. It has honestly changed my life. I get to be happy. I get to be a mom. I get to actually go to Kynslie's class functions. I get to live my dreams. I get to inspire my kids. I get to show them that there is a way to make money besides working their life away in an office for a company that really doesn't care about them. I am no longer just an employee. I am changing people's lives every single day. I am happy. I get take my boyfriend on a vacation to Arizona this June. I have never been, but its going to be a blast. I get to do things i would have never been able to do. I get to live my life unchained to an idea that the only way to be successful is to be in a office working to pay for the house and car you spend no time in.

I love the fact that i am writing this blog post while watching my almost 3 month old baby play on the floor. I am very thankful that i chose a company who pays me well enough to enjoy my babies again. My life isn't simple, don't get me wrong. I still have trails and troubles i deal with every day, but i am a happy person on the inside and out. I am helping others get healthy and finding that healthiness is one of the keys to happiness.

If you hate your job, lets talk. I may be able to help you get to where you want to be. No promises, but the only thing you have to lose is $35 and well, thats basically going out to dinner one night. Not losing much! My webiste is www.plexusbymegan.com.


Disclaimer
I'm not saying that everyone will be able to stay home if they are working for a mlm company. Please do not take it that way. I am also not bashing Payless for my work experience there. I am grateful for the experience i gained, it will look amazing on my resume if i ever decide to go back to work. I am just stating my personal experiences.

Skeptics

I will be the first one to say that my family, while most of then support me, one particular person does not. He does believe in me. He does not believe in network marketing. He is my boyfriend, and his opinion matters the most to me.

I watch him rolls his eyes at me when I talk about my business. I watch his get frustrated with me because I start "working" and zone out and neglect my chores. I offer him products which he politely turns down. I get glares when it is "us" time and i check my phone really quick. Some time i allow my business to be number 1 in my life, and he gets upset. I know it is hard to balance life and work, and i am trying very hard. I know he believes in me, just not network marketing.

When I was pregnant, he would make sure I took my Plexus products. He would wake me up at night if i forgot to take my ProBio5. He would bring me Plexus Slim made up for me with ice in it after i woke up. He was the first person to notice I was graze eating when my preggo brain took over and I managed to skip my slim that morning. I know he loves me enough to help me be the best me i can be.

Once upon a time last year, he was taking products with me. I am not 100% sure what happened, but he stopped and wont take them anymore. I saw the results in him, so i know they were working, but he just gave up and wont try again. Yes, my feelings are hurt, but its OK. I know one day he will try again, I wont give up on him.

How do I deal with someone so close to me being so skeptical?
I know he has been burnt by network marketing before. Many people have. He sees my paychecks, He sees my business growing. But yet he is skeptical. So I pray. I pray that God will allow him to see what I see, unlimited potential. I pray that one day I will be so successful that I can retire him. I trust in God. Those are the ways I deal with skepticism. I do get upset, do not get me wrong. It has been a battle the past few months as i try to get my business back to where it was before.

So, Mister Roses, that's his name in my phone, has now because Mister Skeptic. And Mister Skeptic has decided he wants to go to Plexus Convention with me in June.
1) pray for him, he has never been on a road trip with me and its a 17 hour drive.
2) he wont be a skeptic anymore
3) we will soon be a Plexus power couple.

Yes I know I sound crazy, but it is true. I believe in us. I believe in this business, I believe in these products. Better yet, I believe in me. No one can bring me down. Some days I do struggle with him being a skeptic and i allow it to hurt my feelings. But I stop and pray. Because i know this is where God wants me to be. I have other skeptics in my life and i do not allow them to bother me, I brush their uneducated comments off and block them from my life. In with the uplifting and out with negativity. I am very proud of myself and the fact that i can make my business work when the closest person to me does not believe in network marketing. It is not easy at all, and i stand up strong every single day.


Mister Roses, when you read this, know that I love you with all of my heart, and this is not an attack on you. I am just informing the world that skeptics can be found everywhere, even in your closest circle. I have not given up, and i never will.

Staying home

There are so many reasons I love working from home. I can work when I want from where I want doing whatever I want. Today I am working from home with my youngest baby girl. With my first child, Kynslie born 1/6/09, I started looking for a job around this time. In March 2009, I found one and worked 30-65 hour weeks since I started until last October (2014). This time with Lily (born 12/31/14) I won't miss out on all of the little things. I get to watch Kynslie grow up and won't miss her soccer games this year. I get to cook dinner! I don't have to eat out of a bag any more! That may sound silly to you, but to me it's a huge thing. For 5.5 years I ate out a bag at least once a day, but more like every meal came out of a bag. And I wondered why I gained so much weight!!! 😑 I get to help Kynslie with her homework and play apples to apples with her before bath and bed time. 

So go ahead and look down on me. At least Plexus pays my bills... Unlike your opinion. I love watching my plexus friends post pictures of their kids that they get to stay home with. And I hate seeing YOU post how much you hate your job. Join me, honestly i would love to have you on my team. I would love to train you! All you have to do is join me. 

Rejection.

I used to be outgoing in High School. I worked in retail, and was really crazy good at it, for 5 and a half years. I could sell you the ugliest pair of shoes like they were a pair of Louboutin's, seriously I want a pair of them!!!  I loved my job. Honestly I did. I loved helping people. I loved being stylish. I loved the energy. What I didn't love was missing my family. Not having a life really can take a toll on you. I was worn down and tired. 

I'm pretty sure that is partially what attracted me to the business side of Plexus. The flexibility. The dream of staying home. 

When I was working at "the retail store" I was trained to not take NO for an answer. To keep offering products until the customer said yes. And I was GooooooooD at it. I had the highest sales in my store or whatever store I was working in. But somehow I didn't let that training and jnowledge come with me when I started working my Plexus business full time. I let the word "No" terrify me to the point I can't bring myself to talk about it to random strangers.  And I don't know why I do it! That's not me! People will ask me about my purse that I got from littleblackbag.com and I'll tell them how I got it at a steal! 3 purses, a bottle of hair spray, earrings, bracelets, and  a necklace for $50! One of them was a London fog! I can tell people about the sales I find! I can tell people about anything and everything else. But I've let the fear of rejection from sharing Plexus with others rule my life for way too long. 

NOT ANY MORE!!!

I refuse to let a two letter word rule my life and determine my future any longer. So yes I'm going to annoy you when I see you in person, asking if you have heard or seen my posts about Plexus. You can tell me to shut up or stop talking all you want. You can tell me I puke Plexus all over the place. But guess what? Your opinions don't pay my bills. Your opinion of me doesn't make me who I am, well unless you think I'm awesome because well I am! 😉 But seriously, I will not hold back any more! I will not prejudge people on if they could benefit from our products. I will not pretend I don't have a product that could help you. I WILL NOT BE STOPPED. You can try to keep me down, but it's not going to work. God has a plan for me and I am almost certain it is helping others with Plexus. I love these products. They have changed my life. This company has changed my life. It's only taken me a year to determine that I won't allow fear to dictate my future, but in that time, I have found my passion. 

So watch me grow in to a bigger person as I find my footing in life...

Happiness

I've always equated being happy to what other people's standards are. Money, sex, significant others, job, possessions, their body. And I have always judged people by what makes them happy. If it's money, they're greedy. Sex, they're slutty. Significant others mean they can't be happy alone. Job, over achiever and typically don't have a life. Possessions, materialistic. Body, oh lord don't get me started but if you equated having a hot body to being happy I would have made fun of you while I ate a box of cookies and a giant burger in front of you . 

When I wasn't happy, I only cared about one of the things listed above. And I judged myself on it. And to fill the void of happiness I would shop my heart out. I have about a closet full of clothes I've never worn that still have tags on them! I'm not proud of it, but it is what it is. Then when the shopping lost it's high, I started a business. First it was Scentsy, and I failed miserably. Then it was Mary Kay. That was a joke, I have make up I ordered that will never get used! Why on earth did I order dark brown base when I am pale as a ghost...? Some things I will never understand. Then I joined It Works! I tried when I started this business, but I lost interest after 4 months. I started shopping again. THEN, I started pure romance. I never once did anything. I swore then, mlm's were not for me and I would never do one again. 

Then I decided I would try to make myself happy again. This time I turned my focus on my weight. "Maybe if I get skinny some one will love me and I'll be happy." This was an actual thought I had when I got out of my last bad relationship. I know it's a bad thought; but I was in a bad place. So I started looking in to every thing you could imagine. I found plexus. I started the products and fell in love. I am a firm believe in NEVER PAY RETAIL. It is ingrained in my head and has been since I was born, THANKS GRANNY! So I joined for the prices. I'm cheap, don't hate. But I was not interested in working the business until almost a week laters when someone asked for my website. Then someone joined my team. Then I was hooked. Maybe there was something to this thing. 2 weeks later and I promoted to silver. Then I decided well I'm going to convention 4 months later. And I went. I was so happy. 

In that time between me joining and going to convention. I lost weight. I fell I love with the most amazing man. Found out I was pregnant. But most importantly I fell in love with myself. I became healthy and all of those negative thoughts vanished. It's amazing what changing your lifestyle can do to your self esteem. Even if I wasn't losing weight with plexus I don't think I could ever quit it. Even if I wasn't making money, I couldn't quit. I found my self and my happiness thru these products. They helped me let go of the hurt and my food and shopping problems. I became "me" again. And that has been the best side effect I could ever have imagined. 

So yes I joined a mlm, and I love it. I am happy with my life. 2 beautiful little girls. 1 amazing man who I love with all of my heart. And a booming business that Hod has blessed me with. 

I am happy. I'm starting to find my footing...

Pain

Pain. Hurt. Sadness. Grief. Sickness. Loneliness. Cancer. Chemo. Radiation. Chest compressions. Life support. Death...

All words that a 19 year old should never have to imagine when it comes to their mom. 

Today would have been my mom's 50th birthday. Just thinking about it brings buring tears to my eyes. I sit here and imagine planning her surprise birthday party. The cake. The balloons. The over the hill signs. The not calling her old ever or else she would give me the "look". Man it kills me. And I know a lot of what I am feeling this morning is from the insane hormone changes I am going thru but ouch, it hurts. Everyone says I look like my mom. A spitting image. That Kynslie looks like my mom when she was little. I'm sure it is meant as a compliment, I mean my mom was stunninglybeautifyl, but it doesn't feel like a compliment anymore. 

Since I have started my plexus journey, I have learned a lot about why cancer attacks. Gut health and not enough oxygenation in the blood. Cancer can not survive in an alkaline state. I always thought my mom was fairly healthy. I mean, why on earth would a deadly disease attack a "healthy, good hearted, nice person"? Why is what I will never understand.  I mean she was only 45 when she died. She had so many things to live for! 5 grandchildren at that time and a great niece that she loved with all of her heart. But now, knowing why cancer attacks and what type of environment it can and can not live in inspires me to try to fight it before it tries to eventually attack and kill me. The type of cancer my mom had has a high mortality rate, not many people beat it. It's too strong and moves too fast. Mom's tumor went from 3cm to the size of a grapefruit in the 4-6 weeks it took for them to operate on her. 

So now I am sitting here thinking about how much fun we would have had at my moms party. Laughing until we cry. Smiling until it hurts. Eating cake because well that's apparently what you're supposed to do at these parties, who knew right?  Joking about her needing a cane, and then beating dad with it. Smiling at her playing with now all 6 of her grand babies. Those thoughts hurt. My dad decided that tonight we will let go of some balloons. Knowing him there will be fireworks too. I never once knew how much my dad loved my mom until she was gone. I think I did deep down actually... I can't remember. I hate seeing my dad sad. He's 6ft 6inches. Looks like the undertaker, from wrestling. Watching him fight off the pain of loosing his wife on a daily basis... There are no words.  To say we miss her is an understatement. It's not fair but I'm learning life isn't fair. 

My mom losing her 15 month battle with this demon call adenocarcinoma of the    Duodenum is not a memory I want to live with. It is not something I would ever want my kids to watch me fight off. It's not what I ever want for anyone, not even my worst enemy. I've taken control of my health partially for this reason. Yes, I know even the healthiest of people still can get sick with cancer. Even the nice people. People who are doing God's work. People who don't deserve it. I know that, I'm not stupid. But I plan on doing everything preventative that I can do to make sure my kids never once have to see me in that state. It's not fair to them. It's not fair to anyone. 

So now I am 23, with 2 beautiful little girls. One 6, the other almost 2 weeks old. I am a proud mommy. Beyond proud, I mean I am probably the luckiest mommy ever. (Yes I know every single mother on earth says that so hush) my mom was here for almost 2 years of Kynslie's life. She helped me raise Kynslie to be the most amazing little girl. Kynslie asks and talks about my mom often which makes my heart happy! My mom left such a big impression on her that her 21 month old mind can remember it. That amazes me. Everyone says kids don't remember their toddler years but she does. That was her Mimi! So now we get to teach Lily all about her Mimi. 

I plan on being healthy for my girls. Eating right and exercise, and at 30 I will start my colonoscopies. Fun right?! Anything to live even a day longer for my girls and my family. I know my mom's oncologist will be happy to take my case if it ever comes to that, but I never want to see that man ever again. He did what he could to save mom, and I am thankful, but if I am healthy there will be no need for me to be a patient of his. 

So for now this is where my health journey is taking me. Living healthy so I can live longer. My family, the girls and Johnnie, deserve a healthy me. Oh, thanks Lily for letting me use your burp rag to wipe my tears off while I fed you writing this! And yes I know this is supposed to be my blog about my plexus journey, and this is a sad blog post, but in general it is still about plexus. We have a product that helps oxygenate the blood and another product that helps with gut health. 2 products i will never be with out. Not if it could mean saving my life one day. I plan on living until I'm 102, even though I am sure God has another plan. 

So I am sorry for a long super emotional roller coaster of a post that is pretty much my 3 am ramblings of ridiculiousness. Yeah... Sorry... Blog posting shouldn't be allowed at 3am.... Ever. 

Until next time...

Keep following me as I find my footing in life....

Confidence

I have always been self-conscious. Big eyes, spare tire tummy, muffin top, chubby cheeks, jiggly butt, flabby arms, and I can keep listing things that I have always been embarrassed about. 

I have always hidden from pictures. Standing at the back, offering to take the photo, or just opting out completely. Yes, I am the girl that will say "oh yall go ahead and take it with out me, I'm running to the bathroom really quick!" I would rather NOT remember what my body looks like at its worst. The memory is scorched in to my memory, no need to document it. Or worse, put it on social media for the entire world to laugh and mock me. I'm pretty sure that doesn't happen, or doesn't happen often, but regardless I am terrified of it. 

Joining plexus last year and posting my before and after photos that first week was probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. I know everyone supported me and encouraged me, but it was way outside of my comfort zone. I had no idea that that one little step would open a whole new world to me. 

Yesterday, I went with Johnnie and the girls to a birthday party and to meet his best friend. To say I was nervous was an understatement. I usually clam up and sit by myself and stare at my phone. I stepped out of my comfort zone and talked to people. I made friends, I think at least, and I put my phone up for the most part. I even joined in a group photo at the birthday party! I am very proud of myself to be honest. 

I know that being quiet won't get me anywhere in life. I know that hiding while people are making memories will only hold me back. I know that keeping to myself and not making friends won't grow my business. So this week, I am challenging myself to open up and talk to people about my business. I will succeed in many aspects of life by stepping out of my comfort zone. Making friends, joining in memories, and not clamming up. 

I know it is going to take work, but if I don't try I will never find my footing in life...

The BIG number

Hey guys! 

So yesterday I had a dr appointment. They did the normal check your weight test. Like most women, I dread stepping foot on a scale. Even though I know I have just had a baby. Even though I haven't been able to get up and do much because of the pain from my incision. Even though eating healthy has not been on my agenda, only quick and easy and anything that my 6 year old will eat. Even though I have not been drinking my 100oz of water every day, seriously do you know how annoying it is to take off an abdominal binder each and every single time and trying to go fast and get it back on to get back to your sleeping baby? Even with all of those things, I still, like every woman, hate stepping on the scale. 

I took off my boots, which was a funny sight to see because I still can't really bend to put on or take off my shoes. Then I took off my jacket, you know getting the heavy stuff off!  I step on the scale and look down at the digital screen. Next thing I know, I'm looking at the nurse saying "holy s***!!!" 

She looks at me then looks down at my chart and back at me. I have lost a total of 22 lbs in the past 7 days. Given most of that weight is baby weight, but the best part is I am 5lbs from my lowest weight in the past 3 years. I am beyond proud of myself for not gaining weight during this pregnancy. I am proud that I watched my portion control, for the most part, and have a very healthy baby. I can say Plexus has changed my life and given me hope that I will soon be back to 165lbs. My goal is to not be a twig, but to be fit. Skinny doesn't feel near as good as healthy does. In 5 weeks I will begin working out here in my living room. Until then, keep following me while I find my footing in life. 

Catching up

Hey guys! It's 2015 and I'm going to start writing this blog. It is going to be about my family, my plexus business, and my life. So I'm going to catch you up on what all has been going on in my life and on my plexus health testimony. 

So here I go...

4 years ago I got married and 3 months later I said goodbye to my mom. She was my rock, my best friend and the best mom I could have asked for. To say we were close was an understatement. My marriage was terrible to say the very least. Cheating, finding out he *possibly conceived a child AFTER we were married*, constantly fighting, him and my family did NOT get along. Working at a job that I had convinced myself I loved but honestly hates more than life. I worked so much I barely got to see my daughter Kynslie grownup. It was stressful. I started eating to cope with my feelings. I went from 160 to 210 that year. I became addicted to fast food. It was bad. 

In 2012, I finally got the courage to leave my husband. I left 2 days before Christmas after a huge fight. I packed Kynslie's things up from the no bedroom house we lived in and left in the middle of the night. I moved home back to my dad's house and never looked back. I had met a guy who was really nice to me. Spoiled me with attention. Made me happy, or so I thought. During this time I was "promoted to manager" at the job I hated. I worked by myself for months at a time. After a year of dating, if that's what you want to call it, he would come see me once a month or so, I found out he was cheating on me. I was stupid and stayed with him anyways. 2 months later, I found out he had gotten married while we were dating. So I ate my feelings. Whataburger combo, whatasized (their version of super sized) plus about 6 large sweet teas from McDonald's every single day plus tacos for dinner. It's sad when you just walk in to a restaurant and they know you, your order, and your total instantly. 

October 11, 2013, the 3 year anniversary of my mom's death, I rushed to the doctor because I thought I was having a heart attack. 22 years old. Hooked up to an ekg machine in the doctors office was when I realized how bad I had let myself get. That day I weight 240lb. My family didn't know how much I weighed, but this was the highest I ever got. They put me on acid reflux meds and sent me to get a sonogram of my esophagus. The next day, they found an ulcer in the EXACT same spot my mom's cancer was. I completely freaked out. But in complete me fashion, I ate my feelings. 

I tried to diet to lose the weight I had packed on. I tried to cut out fast food. I just couldn't. I made a resolution 12/31/13 to lose weight so I wouldn't be sick. My mom's friend Dawn started posting on Facebook about this pink drink to make you shrink. After a few days I was curious. I messaged her. "Ok, what on earth is that pink drink? What does it do? And will it help my acid reflux?" She told me to order a 7 day trial. It arrived 2/3/14. That night I weighed, measured, and took pictures. Praying to God this stuff would work for me, I shook up this pink powder stick in a bottle of water like she told me. I drank it all. And I waited. I got to work, and for the first time I didn't WANT to sit down and play on my phone all morning. I was up doing my job and getting things done. Day 2, I did the same thing. Day 3 was the first time I didn't take tums for the first time since October. Day 4, I signed up to become an ambassador for Plexus. At the end of the 7 days, I had lost 5lbs and 13.5 inches off of my body. I was beyond thrilled. When I started plexus I was 237lbs. By the end of March, I had lost 17lbs and over 50inches. 

In late January 2014, I met my now boyfriend. He was shopping in my store one day and I will never forget those blue eyes. We texted back and forth for a few weeks and then had our first date. He showed up with 2 long stem red roses and took me to eat mexican food. That night while we were at dinner, he walked me out to my car and i checked my phone. I had signed my first level 2 ambassador. He hugged me while I cried tears of happiness. The next week, he met me for lunch at work and brought me flowers. (Those dead flowers are in my bathroom up on a shelf, I can't bring myself to ever get rid of them) He could tell I had been losing weight and told me he was proud of me. April, I swore off fast food and I started taking probio5. That month I fell in love with Johnnie. On May 1st, he took me and Kynz to her last soccer game and then we went to first Monday. I felt sooooo sick that day. May 2nd at 3am, we found out I was pregnant. Even though we had not been together long, we were both very excited. He had always wanted a baby. We laid in bed together and cried happy tears. 

May I started having issues bleeding. We thought we were going to lose the baby. I continued on my plexus slim after consulting with my doctor. I added in Xfactor multivitamin. I was put on nausea meds to keep me from being sick like I was with Kynz. My whole pregnancy I was happy and healthy. My doctor's office had a bet on when I was going to start showing. I was losing weight and feeling great! We found out we were having a girl and were so excited! At 6 months I finally started showing. 

October 2, 2014, I was fired from my job. We freaked out. No insurance. No income. No nothing. I desperately checked my plexus bank account and I had more money in there than I could have expected. I wasn't using the account for anything the entire 6 months I was getting paid. Money issue was solved. I went and applied for medicaid and was approved. Insurance issue solved. Then my doctor didn't take my insurance, big problem. I finally found a new doctor at 34 weeks pregnant. 

I had lost an additional 17lbs since the beginning of my pregnancy. I was so happy. Even with the holidays, I only gained 7lbs total from thanksgiving to new years eve. We woke up at 3:15 am. Got dressed and headed to the hospital. We get to the hospital at 430am. They hook me up and start prepping me for the planned csection to welcome our baby girl in to the world. The nurse comes in and says did you know you were having contractions? Nope! Sure didn't! At 7:30am they walked me to the or and began getting me on the table. With Johnnie by my side, we welcomed our baby girl Lillian Faith Eddins in to the world at 8:03am. She is 7lbs and 11oz. She is the definition of perfection. After a 2 day stay at the hospital they sent us home. 

We have been home for 4 full days now. I am waiting until we go back for my check up to update my weight loss. The best part is I began my plexus slim again yesterday, Monday 1/5/15, and have amazing energy. I feel great, even with the c section healing. I am bouncing back way better than I expected. My appetite in still under control. I feel good! 

Plexus has changed my life in more than one way. I not only got the only me back. I am now enjoying being home with my now 6 year old and my 6 day old baby girls. That's something I never could have imagined doing 4 months ago or even a year ago. I am beyond blessed to have my girls and the man that I love more and more each time I see him holding Lily. 

So that is my story for now. As I continue to get my pre-baby-1 body back, I will be writing about my journey. Follow me, join me as I find my footing in life.