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Category: testimonials

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Women’s Health Month: Stories and Inspiration

May is Women’s Health Month. A time to celebrate the incredible gifts of women, and the ways that their contributions to the world shape it for the better, every single day, in unfathomable ways.

And that’s what I believe we celebrate and hold up when we single out women’s health month. I really think there are no better folks to address this topic than the powerhouse women who are contributing in today’s blog their thoughts and reflections on what it means to prioritize and value health as a woman.

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SAMANTHA

Hi, My name is Samantha, and I am a born and raised Jersey girl 😉 (not the jersey shore kind of gal though) lol. I grew up in a small town outside of Philadelphia. My parents still own the farm that has literally been past down from generation to generation. Hard work, dedication, and compassion towards others (humans and animals) have been some of the core values my parents instilled in our family. I am still the happiest when I am outdoors, whether it is running, picking fresh herbs from the garden, or sunning myself on the beach.

Working in the healthcare field, I see how detrimental poor health and illness can be to the body as well as the mind. I am thankful that I have the ability to move and live the active lifestyle that I choose, as it allows me to live my best life for my family and closest friends.

I have been involved in athletics my entire life, and was very competitive at the high school and college level. I now enjoy running, a mix of cross training, and yoga.

One of the biggest changes to my health (physical and mental) was the addition of a yoga practice. I found yoga one of the years in college. At the time, it served as a place to quiet my crazy college brain while I was finishing up my doctorate. I came to find out that it has been something that I started to lean on a lot. Yoga got me through college, through a breakup, through a move to the Big Apple, through a new job, and through a move back home. Currently, I am making meditation and a daily prayer journal a part of this whole practice.

Some of the most important elements of my day that help me be at my best are when I take time in the morning to write, read or meditate. I have struggled with a daily gratitude journal, but I know when I make it a habit I feel better going into my day. My mind is sharper and it just sets me up to be at my very best. I also try to have a healthy breakfast. Sometimes it’s just on-the-go oatmeal, but I know for me to feel energized and fueled, I need to start my day with a powerful meal. Lastly, I try to get in some kind of movement for the day. It may be a morning run or evening at the gym, or it may just be a Sunday afternoon walk or some easy yoga poses. I feel getting out in the fresh air is rejuvenating and its important to take time out of our busy days for moments like this.

I think health and wellness as a whole has been ingrained in me since a small child. Growing up on a farm blessed us with our own free range grass-fed beef and pork, as well as a full garden of vegetables in the summer months. My mom home made almost all of our meals, and growing up in a family of 7 I now understand the value in cooking at home versus eating out(monetary value too). I am very thankful to have a mother who prioritized healthy meals for her family. I am inspired everyday by any and all moms. I seriously cannot fathom how it’s done. Maybe one day I will understand, but right now you guys rock ☺

One of the biggest lessons that I have learned in my adult life is the power of forgiveness. Not only forgiveness for others but especially forgiveness in ourselves. I have really spent a lot of time in prayer on this, and then one day it clicked. For me to move on and let go, I really had to find that forgiveness in myself. For me to allow happiness and joy into my heart I needed to forgive, and to know that I have already been and will allows be imperfectly perfect just the way I am. I think one of the most powerful things we as women can do is too forgive ourselves. It is also one of the most difficult things to do. But to be able to move on, take on new challenges in life, and experience life to the fullest we need to first start with our own forgiveness.

You can find Samantha sharing her yoga, running, inspiration and balanced living on Instagram @samanthadesimone

KATIE

As a native of the Pacific Northwest, I will always be a tree and mountain lover at heart, but I’m living the SoCal life for now. 🙂 I’m an achiever and strategic thinker, but I have a deep love of the beauty that is evident when all things connect and work together in harmony. I’m passionate about helping things grow to reach their truest, most beautiful, and most authentic form — whether that’s myself, people who trust me with their hearts, or the little organic herb garden on my kitchen windowsill.

As I’ve grown to know myself better, I’ve learned just how critical my daily habits are in the big picture of my health. My non-negotiables include:

  1. Time boundaries. They add balance and help me keep my priorities in the midst of the demands of 21st century life. For example, my mornings are sacred — I set aside at least 15 minutes for reflection, prayer, meditation, and/or journaling (and more time if I’m feeling particularly unbalanced that day or season). I also know that I need to be realistic with the amount of rest and sleep (which aren’t the same!)  I need in order to function well in all parts of my life.
  2. A diet that’s right for me. I’ve learned the hard way what does and doesn’t work for my body, and I’m learning self-mercy and acceptance of my limitations in the process. I make sure I take my multivitamin, I don’t buy foods that don’t agree with me, but I don’t let my diet become my #1 focus. I keep in mind that maintaining a healthy body is just one part of the bigger goal of being a healthy person in every aspect.
  3. Embracing outdoor time. Reading, running, whatever I can do — surrounding myself with nature (regardless of weather!) fuels my soul and hits the reset button on my mind and body when I’m overwhelmed.

I’ve had a few health crises over the years, from broken bones and bad breakups to times of intense anxiety and panic. When I was less aware (and less accepting) of my individual needs, I would just react in any way I could order to cope with the challenges. Too little sleep, too much work and TV, being around toxic people, or just indulging in distractions — these were all poor coping mechanisms that I turned to. I finally reached a point that I realized and accepted that I needed help in caring for myself, and in addition to opening new resources to me for healing and thriving, it freed me of the burden of thinking I had to do everything myself. I monitor my thoughts and actions more closely now (daily even) to make sure I’m not just “coping”, and also not expecting myself to be God when I should be embracing and loving myself as a human person.

One of the best things I’ve done for myself as a woman is to learn how my cycle and hormones effect — and are effected by — the other aspects of my life, including diet and nutrition, sleep, and stress. I began using the Femm app to track the different phases of my cycle as well as my emotional health on a daily basis. A daily check-in like this is something I recommend to every woman from high school on through adulthood. It is so enlightening and so empowering to know how and why our bodies work the way they do, and it provides a look into a side our overall health that’s so often overlooked and undervalued.

One of the biggest lessons — and greatest graces — of my adult life has been seeing the importance of community. None of us can do this life alone, and we were never meant to. I’m so grateful to have amazing sister-friends in my life who encourage me, speak truth to me, and constantly teach me more about the beauty of being a woman and being whole. It’s a blessedly long list of names, and I make it one of my priorities to foster those special friendships — they’re the treasures of a lifetime.

Katie can be found sharing beautiful captures, reflections, and worldwide adventures at @ciaokaedo on Instagram.

CLAIRE

I am a Pacific Northwest native, living my best life through love of God and self-care. I am on a mental health journey and love sharing my story and tips with others suffering from mental illness. I am the most content if I am outside enjoying the sun and the beautiful natural world with family and friends!

The most important aspect of my health is having the mental clarity and stamina to be with people I love. When I have mental clarity and stamina, I can fully engage with my surroundings and the people around me, and this makes me happy and content!

In college, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and immediately put on antidepressants. After a few years of unsuccessfully trying different doses and medications, I decided enough was enough and I would try a more natural approach to my mental health. As I set out on the journey, I didn’t know much about natural medicine or how to get better going the natural route but deep down I knew this was the right way for me. I started with exercise as this was familiar to me and I did know that every healthy person was active. I decided to go big and challenge myself in an extreme way and train for a marathon! I am so glad I did! It set the groundwork for my mental health journey by showing me that nothing can be attained without hard work and dedication.

I recently started slowing down my mornings (I am NOT a morning person and tend to snooze for too long then rush out the door) and make time for morning prayer. I make my bed when I get up.  It is one small accomplishment to start the day and makes a soothing and visually calming sanctuary to come home to after a crazy day at work. Last but not least, I make daily exercise and healthy eating a priority. The foundation of any healthy journey whether mental or physical (or both) is diet and exercise. You can’t do one or the other or neither and expect to be healthy. Believe me I’ve tried!

My Mom was ahead of her time as far as healthy eating habits! She would always say “we must have a salad with every meal” especially if it was the rare take out pizza! She would often refer to Westin Price, and we always knew the nutrition content for every vegetable. She inspired my love of gardening and we were spoiled as children by being fed from her large vegetable garden. My sister, Emily, is another great inspiration in my life. Her dedication to healthy eating and exercise with four small children is admirable. Her calm and reasoned approach to life has gotten me through my toughest times, she has saved me more than once. My best friend, Maddy, inspires me daily with her unflagging encouragement, she is the best cheerleader and friend a girl can have! Her faith in me and my journey is what has pushed me to continue my journey by helping others! I wouldn’t be where I am with these three amazing women!

Find and follow Claire on Instagram at @onefingeroutofwater and cheer her on as she launches her website next month, promoting holistic approaches to mental health challenges and sharing her journey. We’re so excited for the ripple effect you’re already making for many women.

VALERIE

I am so excited to be a woman of today who has the ability to understand the importance of health, nutrition, commitment and fellowship. I am lucky to have been exposed to the principles of hard work, determination, and commitment at an early age and having the ability to apply them in all faucets of my life. I have been exposed to ALL challenges of life and I truly believe that without daily exercise, attention to nutrition and the support of a few good friends, I would not be where I am today; healthy in mind, body, and spirit! I work as a mental health and substance abuse counselor, and running a dog business.

 WHAT I VALUE MOST ABOUT MY HEALTH AND HOW IT ALLOWS ME TO LIVE MY BEST LIFE:

 I VALUE MY HEALTH!!! All components of it! My health allows me to attend to all the requirements the demands of a busy life place on me. My health allows me to be available to my family, my job, my relationships, but more importantly to myself! I love life! My health ensures me that I will be able to live the best life that is afforded to me with enthusiasm, excitement, and zest! I feel blessed that I have been graced with the knowledge of the importance of good health and the ability to accomplish all that I have as I know there are those that have not been so lucky. I have been committed to helping other women endorse this knowledge of the importance of health for a long time and will continue to do so.

 AN EXAMPLE OF A HEALTH CHALLENGE:

I was raised in a family where there were multiple physical health and mental health issues as well as battles with addiction. Through the struggles to overcome these issues I have discovered the importance of daily attention to my own personal health. With daily exercise, attention to proper nutrition, and a healthy relationship with a strong network I have been able to develop a positive perspective regarding healthy living and the importance of a daily regiment of the proper vitamins and supplements.

 The two top health habits that ensure that I am at my best are: daily exercise and proper nutrition.

 I would love to give a “shout out” to Madeleine and Latisha for the commitment that they have displayed with my introduction to Shaklee and all of their products. Although I have maintained my regime of supplements, nutrition and exercise, I saw a tremendous improvement in my overall health, physical performance and strengthening of hair, nails and skin after the addition of Shaklee to my routine. I feel blessed to have met these two ladies and will continue to use them both as positive role models

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I have always believed and understood that there is nothing so fierce, so powerful, so purposeful, as a woman who knows her mission on this earth, and who knows her true worth. This worth stems from her understanding of herself, in right relation to God, to her friends, family, vocation and so much more. But this worth also starts within, when we are able to love ourselves with the  recognition of just how special we are.

Of course, none of us are without our challenges, struggle, health concerns and setbacks. That’s what makes us human. But we are tremendously encouraged when we see other women valuing self-care, their holistic—physical, mental, emotional and spiritual—health, and that ripple effect spreads beyond each of us when we make a personal commitment to health and fulfillment.

A happy Women’s Health month to you all! For a bit more sharing about some of the beautiful tools available to support women in every decade of their healthiest life, go here.

And feel free to share this article with a women who inspires you or who could use some encouragement. We’re in this together–and we rise by lifting others.

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Every day is Earth Day around here!

I have come to appreciate Earth Day more and more each year. As I get older, my awareness of how much the season changes and our connection with nature really affect us in all aspects, and this year, celebrating Earth day with our own little plot of trees, grass, sun soaked yard, and welcoming warmth. There is such an important lesson in being grateful for this beautiful world we live in, and considering how to leave a legacy of care, gratitude, sustainability and hope for the next generation.

So 6 years ago today…

A bottle of non-toxic cleaner arrived at my doorstep. Drumroll….

Really? Is that all?

Well, that one bottle, started a process of something that changed our lives…in so many ways.

You see, I was at a crossroads in life…trying to figure out how to balance a career I loved, with having children, and my heart told me that being a mom needed to come first. But, we were living in Brooklyn, I was in the midst of job searching in the finance and non-profit accounting realm, having recently lost my high paying but super stressful job in that field. Emma was 1.5 years old, and I found myself, unexpectedly, spending my days with her, on the playgrounds, with friends, in coffee shops, and taking a hard look, with my husband, at what we wanted our family, future and my career to look like in the years ahead.

My dear friend Melinda was a health coach, and during this time, she told me, “I’m starting a partnership with this great company, I want to share some of it with you.” And I remember being like “oh, ya, vitamins, whatever. I have those, I pay lots for them at GNC, I take them (most days), and I don’t feel any different.” (Ha! What a surprise I was in for–many posts on that here on the site). BUT, I did fall in love with the concept and what she shared with me about the green cleaning line. So I decided I wanted to buy a bottle of the Basic H2, which I later learned is an official earth day product and all this…but at the time, I was just looking for a way to clean my home without guilt. See, I KNEW the stuff under my sink was bad for us, it gave me a headache sometimes, I used to have my husband clean the shower when I was pregnant (Sorry Joel), and then I would every once in a while break down and hire a cleaning lady to come in with her bags full of chemical laden cleaners–and we’d clear out (go to the park for a few hours)…when we came back, it always look good and smelled “clean” but something told me my daughter playing on the floor and touching all the surfaces, deserved better. Yes, I’d tried other natural cleaners, but I always felt they left residue, and didn’t work as well. SOO….I trusted my friend Melinda and agreed to buy a $10 bottle of basic H, intrigued by the idea that it was concentrated so it would last me a while, and would replace several of the plastic bottles I was eager to get rid of.

Best decision ever.

You see, this is the bad news. We do live in a toxic world.

And we need to be conscious of what we bring into our homes–with cleaners being a primary concern.

And then when I fell in love with the cleaning line–I began to realize just how many different toxins and chemicals I was accepting into my life–in food (scary!), in my personal care/skin care, and so many aspects of life! Did you know that many supplements are tested only to find they are sawdust and full of fillers that aren’t even on the label!? That’s crazy. So this brand that is doing the right thing by the earth, by it’s constituents, and that has a legacy of green that stretches back 60 years, with the first official Earth Day product (Basic H), and this incredible environmental legacy as the first company to become carbon neutral in 2000, and to be leading the way, showing other companies how to walk the walk when it came to green living–and more–I knew I had to make the switch over, in the other areas of my lifestyle too!

Then, next thing I knew, a few crucial soul-searching months later, I was on a path to becoming a certified health coach and LOVING helping hundreds of other families make the switch, and clean up many areas of life–because holistic living is a wonderful way to reach thriving and to live in harmony with nature.

It’s been such a gift and I’m thrilled that it all started this way. I always tell myself, my kids and my clients–little changes really do add up. Do you believe that?

What changes are you ready to make in your non-toxic lifestyle? Would you like to link arms with us and help plant some trees while greening up and cleaning up our own homes?

Well here we are,  6 years later, and we’re still finishing up that SAME, First bottle! Wow. Best $10 spent. Ever. 

 

 

And through that change, to our laundry, dishwashing, cleaning, habits—we literally started breathing better, felt confident having our children clean with us! (Such a great thing!) and when I’ve had housekeepers, etc they’ve always used these products and LOVED the results. For a fresh clean smell we’ll use essential oils in them (lemon, peppermint and on guard being my favorites). And through these simple changes, not only are our clothes brighter, our home toxin free, but it also inspires us to continually make more and more choices that serve our planet–and our lives–better. It’s that ripple effect–when we feel better, we do better.

 

Get yours here!

 

After all, shouldn’t our homes be the cleanest places on earth?

And is it possible that the small act of scouring the sink, can be the giant act of changing the world?

Now for some testimonials and tips! These amazing women share what this Earth loving change has meant to them! As well as some of their quick cleaning tips to inspire us as we all green up and clean up!

Martie Ryland:

 

I’m Martie Ryland– wife to Chris, mama to Glyn, writer, gardener, and lover of all types of four-legged critters. We live on a farm in Arkansas where we stay very busy!
You can find me on Instagram @s_c_gyspy
Martie’s Top Cleaning Tips!
1- Keep a cleaning rotation going. Just a twice weekly wipe down of countertops, bathrooms, and light dusting keeps you from having to deep clean nearly so often. I pick one room a day, and it takes me 10 minutes or less!
 
2- Let the kids help. Since the Get Clean line is non-toxic, I can let my 1 1/2 year old help me without worrying about him being exposed to any harmful chemicals. I hand him a rag, and let him go to town. I get more done if he’s occupied and doesn’t feel excluded. 
 
3- Add essential oils to the mix if you miss that “cleaner” smell. Any kind you want, really. I love using lemongrass or orange. 

Robin Neely:

“Before and after! I spilled juicy blueberries on this wood countertop a few weeks ago and thought it would be there forever. This morning I thought I’d try Scour Off. Took about a teaspoon of it and some elbow grease, but this old counter looks clean!”

(You can find Robin and her inspirational vegan and bunny loving lifestyle on instagram @penny_parsnip)

Newelle McDonald:

“Before I found Shaklee all I could do to help save the planet was to wash and reuse my plastic bags. NOW, I’ve prevented more than 829 plastic bottles from going into landfills EACH YEAR! I can’t possibly calculate the chemicals that have not gone into our waters. I’ve been doing this 15 years. You do the math… I can look Mother Earth straight in the eyes and say, “I’m here for you Momma!””

Newelle can be found sharing holistic insipration  at www.newelle-ness.com

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Real athletes, real results

It’s Spring! And a moment when many of us start thinking about new workout habits and routines as the weather warms, motivation is higher, days are longer, and summer is on the mind….

So, after talking about why we workout a few weeks back, I wanted to share with you some stories of women who take their passion for fitness seriously, who inspire, who live on their edge, who don’t let their fear of failure keep them from trying new things and challenging themselves.

These ladies have been building in some extra natural nutrition supports for their endeavors in 2018, to give these nutrition supports the real athlete “test.” Now, it’s time to share their feedback and some initial results. I can’t wait for you to hear about these amazing women and connect with their stories and inspiration!

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Alyx 

Bio: “Hi, I’m Alyx and I work for a mouse” 🙂 (Best bio ever!)

Alyx works for Disney! And lives in Florida with her doctor husband and her furry family. She’s run many of the Disney themed races around the country, and started this season with a Love Chocolate Run half marathon in Savannah before tackling some races closer to home.

Here’s Alyx’s detailed record of her race experience:

So I wanted to write you about my Shaklee Savannah plan! This was my first race using Shaklee so I wasn’t to sure how it was going to go. I packed Energize, Hydrate, and the PM recovery pills. I packed Hydrate in my running belt along with my Cliff Shot Energy Gels. My race plan is typically to take a gel at mile 4/5 and then again at mile 8/9.

I made a water cup of hydrate for breakfast. The race wasn’t until 9am so it’s also the first time I’ve had a race start so late. I used hydrate at 730/8am with breakfast. I then made an Energize to have right before the start of the race.  

I have to say the Energize was great! I didn’t feel the need to “goo” until mile 7. I really felt it kick in around mile 2/3 and I reminded myself that I had hydrated well and energized before the race so I was good to go.

As soon as the race ended, I used a Hydrate in the water they passed out and felt great. I was a bit dehydrated during the race probably due to the mid 60s and humidity and the lack of water stops (4 total on the course). I took another Hydrate later in the day around lunch time and capped the night off with nighttime recovery that evening. I also took nighttime recovery on Sunday and Monday nights and felt like I got great sleep Sunday and Monday night.

It’s Tuesday and I feel refreshed and recovered. Ready to tackle my 10k next week! I will be adding Hydrate into my pre-race plan as well as Energize!”

Since then: Alyx went on to do a few other amazing spring races, including a LIFETIME PR 10K on Sunday, March 10–snagging 2nd place in her age group with a time of 56:48, a full 3 minutes faster than the Princess 10K race she had run 2 weeks before (59:07). Impressive!

So love seeing how the performance improvements add such an edge to the season…we’re excited to hear how your next half (in Hawaii!) goes! She even has her husband, who also races with her, enjoying the Hydrate and Energize boosts to race weekend!

You can follow her at:

Instagram: @alyxreinhardt

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Jess 

Bio: By day, I am a market researcher in NYC where I uncover consumer insights that improve my company’s product offerings, customer growth, and subscriber retention. Outside of work, I have a passion for fitness and nutrition, which helps me to feel my best.  I grew up playing soccer, dance, and track, which turned into triathlons and marathon running. Several years ago, a friend introduced me to CrossFit and I never looked back- I’ve been competing in CrossFit as well. I love seeing the results from a proper nutrition and exercise regimen in getting fitter and stronger!

Here’s what Jess shared about her experience:

I am an avid CrossFit athlete, exercising at least 5 days a week and competing on occasion.  I started incorporating Physique Build into my regimen as a post-workout supplement to aid with muscle growth and recovery.  The shake had a watery texture and was palatable. The results were excellent- I was hardly sore after tough workouts and had more muscle tone.  In fact, friends I hadn’t seen in awhile told me that I “looked jacked” and a new gym member asked how often I workout because I “look strong and hard as a rock”.  I’m looking forward to further developing these gainz with Physique Build!

Currently, Jess shared that she’s also using the PM recovery, but finding it works better on nights when she can sleep more than 6 hours!

She finished her final round of a several week CrossFit competition this weekend, and is waiting on the results–send her some good luck vibes and well wishes!

You can find her at:

Instagram: @jtwong8

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Sophia

Sophia is a birth doula, midwife-in-training and placenta specialist, who lives in Sunny California (near San Francisco). She’s been using the baseline nutrition tools of vitalizer and shakes for several years, and starting in 2018, she dove in with the 7 day healthy cleanse, had amazing results for body, mind and spirit—and then continued with the Vitalizer as a grounding, energizing element of a new training program. She’s an amazing example of someone who is embracing a new year, new habits, new life!

Vitalizer had given me the extra boost I needed to cover the mental ground that told me I could not do this. As a vegan, a complete nutrition program is crucial and Vitalizer leaves nothing to be desired. It has enabled me to thrive and conquer nerve damage and other hurdles. The journey is just beginning!

You can find and follow her at:

Instagram: @wildandwisebirth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildandwisebirth/

I get daily inspiration from these ladies, and I know that many of you may be inspired by this post as we head into spring–taking the opportunity to set new fitness routines, goals and linking arms with others who will help us to enjoy the process, set our sights high, and most importantly, cheer us on through the tough moments that are part of any journey of self-improvement. When we remember why we started, we become truly unstoppable.

The products mentioned in this post are linked wherever mentioned…and there’s a special offer on the pure performance pack for athletes trying it out! Reach out to us with questions and to get yours! (madeleine.pidel@gmail.com)

Fitness pack: For the casual/short interval athlete: low sugar content in all the products.

Endurance pack: For the long distance biker/runner, or intense/endurance athlete…focus on balanced carbs/electrolytes and sugars in the products/recovery.

Also, I don’t know about you, but the Olympics always give me such inspiration; when hearing about the athletes and how they persevere in the sight of their goals…I’m still on a high from those. Here’s an amazing summary of the results of the Shaklee pure performance team, athletes who turn to this brand because purity and safety matter so much. 28 athletes and 7 medals, from athletes representing countries around the globe! I’ve been known to say—if it’s good enough for Olympians, it’s good enough for me and my athletic performance.

I can’t wait to hear what your pure performance stories will be!

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The Best Prenatal on the planet. Here’s why.

When I was pregnant with my first, I went and picked out a prenatal bottle from GNC…the moment of a rite of passage for so many mothers.
I was pretty health conscious at the time, ate my veggies, shopped at the local food market, etc…BUT…hadn’t a clue how to pick the best supplements for me and baby.

I think I picked the one with the prettiest label. It made me feel naseous, especially if I took it on an empty stomach or too early in the day. That is a common complaint I hear from friends and often has to do with the amount of iron and how well (or poorly) formulated it is. The iron in a pre-natal should be absorbable, and not soo harsh that it hurts our stomach or makes us even sicker than we need to be!

I don’t think I felt any more energized when taking the pre-natal. I managed to have a great first pregnancy in many ways, but besides walking I really didn’t have any fitness incorporated in, and I was diagnosed as borderline gestational diabetic so I followed the recommendations for the GD diet, and was more conscious of walking during the 2nd half of the pregnancy. Since I wasn’t old, or overweight in starting out the pregnancy, it was a tough diagnosis to receive, and most especially because they told me that I would almost be certain to have GD in all subsequent pregnancies, and much more likely to become diabetic sooner than later.

Well, fast forward to 2 Shaklee pregnancies later, I have had no signs of GD in either one; I’ve been conscious of being very active, and the supplements and shakes (low-glycemic, super high quality protein) have helped tremendously. I’m thrilled to share this with other moms, and so many of them have had amazing, very energized pregnancies, no issues, complications, and in a few cases, even resolving severe anemia during pregnancy etc due to the absorption quality of this vita-strip, something that has it’s own patent.

One of my other friends was a bit more saavy with picking out her pre-natal. She went to whole foods and got an Organic whole foods based pre-natals that were highly recommended, etc.

Well, turns out, those same whole food based prenatal showed up on a list of prenatals and kids vits that have higher than acceptable amounts of lead in them. Yes, Lead. Why? Do you ask? Good question.

The industry of supplements can be fairly unregulated, so it’s SO important to find a brand with transparency, science, peer-reviewed studies and more, so you know you’re getting exactly what it says on the label, plus more.

You can see that review of lead in prenatal brands, here…and learn more about the Shaklee difference that we’re so confident in here:

The scientists behind our pre-natal research and the Prenatal products, specifically Vitalizer, share their recommendations here:

http://http://shaklee.tv/10-nutrients-for-a-healthy-pregnancy

They go into the details on why the Vitalizer has been updated with extra Folic Acid, Iodine, EPA, DHA and other important nutrients in keeping with the most updated research on healthy pregnancies.

But after all this, don’t just take my word for it. When we had an OB who’s been using Shaklee in his practice for 40 years come and speak to us, he said using Shaklee supplements was in his experience, the BEST prevention for pre-term labors, and he had all the stats to back it up.

Here are some fantastic testimonies from midwives, mothers and others who have witnessed the effect of Shaklee supplementation on pregnancies.

“After discovering I had gestational diabetes during my 3rd pregnancy, I turned to Shaklee for HELP.  Using Shaklee vitamins and Meal Shakes, I not only had a beautiful baby boy naturally (apgar score 10), but I also had minimal healthly weight gain.  Thanks to Shaklee, my fears of insulin dependency, baby complications and weight gain were turned into a positive experience.”

-Colleen Demusz, Philadelphia, PA 

“I was first introduced to Shaklee by my Mother-in-law, Veronica LaMena. She gave me a little bottle of cleaning wonder- Shaklee Basic H.  I loved the fact that it didn’t have a potent odor and I could clean anything with it!! As the years went by, I began using more and more Shaklee products.

When I found out that my husband and I were expecting our second child, I didn’t want to use the typical prenatal vitamins I had used with our first child.  I did not have a great experience with them.  As a Registered Nurse, I knew what I needed to have a healthy pregnancy.  I took my daily Shaklee Vita-Lea multi, GLA Plus, OmegaGuard and Calcium Complex just to name a few.  My skin was glowing and I felt incredible!  I trusted Shaklee to nourish me and my baby the way we deserved to be!  To this day, and every day, my family and I will continue to trust Shaklee to promote our health and well being!”

-Nicole LaMena, Southampton, PA

“I had been using Shaklee for 24 years before I was pregnant with my first child.  Before and while pregnant, I had a soy shake every morning for breakfast, Vita Lea (2), B Complex (2), OsteoMatrix (4), Vita C (2).

I was NEVER nauseous, never constipated, no leg cramps (midwife recommended I take the OsteoMatrix before bed to fend off any leg cramps), no heartburn, stretch-marks, etc.  Outside of some fluid retention (should have taken Alfalfa!) I really felt no different than when I wasn’t pregnant.  Had easy, quick labor and delivery and an 8 1/2 lb healthy baby just a few days from her due date.  (I would also highly recommend GLA at end of pregnancy.)  When I was pregnant with my son, 2 years later, I added Optiflora, OmegaGuard (3), and Alfalfa (10) to the above supplements.  I gained 10 lbs less – I think from not retaining any water – Alfalfa worked! Still no “pregnancy side-effects”, very fast delivery and an 8 lb full-term baby.  I loved being pregnant, actually!  🙂  I continued all of the above while nursing.  (My midwife said alfalfa was good for cow’s milk and it’s good for our milk, too!)

I took my bottles in for my midwife to check doses.  By the end of my pregnancy I think I was taking 6 OsteoMatrix, for example.  She actually tried to get me to fill a prescription for pre-natals, saying that I didn’t need to be taking  individual pills, but I knew my body was actually absorbing and utilizing what was in the Shaklee vitamins (and I was used to taking them).  Plus, they were all natural, unlike many prescription pre-natals.  I had compared them with my friends’ pre-natals and Shaklee was so much more complete than they were!  It’s funny how many times someone will ask me, “Does Shaklee have a prenatal?”  as if just because it’s a prescription multi-vitamin it must be better than others.  You can’t get any better than Shaklee!!”

-Jennifer Doran

“Before taking Shaklee I was always tired, constipated and couldn’t eat anything without heartburn.  Then I was diagnosed with Epstein Barr Syndrome.  “Dr. Mom” introduced me to Shaklee and I noticed I was staying awake longer and felt better. I’ve been faithful to Shaklee ever since, and even used the vitamins during my pregnancies.  I was home from the hospital early with each C-section and back to normal within 2 weeks.”             –

Kris Gilchrist (daughter-in-law), Washington Crossing, PA 

“When I got pregnant I was diagnosed with anemia and had morning sickness and had been given horrible iron pills by my doc on top of the prenatal chemical-filled “vitamins” they prescribed then.  My mom was just new to Shaklee but convinced me of its merits (thanks mom!) and I took Shaklee instead.  To this day I swear that my son’s healthy teeth (something my family struggles with) are because I used Shaklee supplements and especially the Shaklee calcium.  He never had a cavity until he reached his 30’s and then it was only one.  His teeth are straight, white and healthy, something I was not blessed with, nor my grandparents that’s for sure!  He continued taking Shaklee supplements throughout childhood.

I wouldn’t be pregnant without taking Shaklee supplements…and actually if you are thinking about becoming pregnant, make sure both parents are taking the supplements at least a month before actually beoming pregnant and beyond.  The health of both parents before pregancy is critical. You will be very pleased and grateful you did!  I know I am…”

-Nancy Tharp

 

“My name is Terry Gyde. I have 18 years experience in helping women through childbirth and have seen what poor nutrition can do to a Mom and baby. This has compelled me to help Moms find the best nutrition they can get for them and their baby. Doctor prescribed pre-natal vitamins are most times more harmful than they are good. Most vitamins do not break down in your system in time to release the nutrients you need to produce a healthy baby. Many of them contain harmful substances.

What proof have I seen? I first started noticing the difference in the placenta. Compared to those who took Dr. prescribed or health food store vitamins, the Shaklee placentas were bigger, thicker, stayed intact until time of pushing, released quicker, and had no calcification or signs of aging. The umbilical cords were also thicker and healthier looking. The babies have more vernex on them at 40 weeks gestation than those using other types of vitamins. What does this mean? Babies are born healthy! Moms feel better! There is less need for C-sections and other medical interventions.

You can carry on this great care for your baby by choosing Shaklee Infant vitamins. I have seen babies who take them have less severe illnesses. Babies sharing the same nursery, catching the same bug with much different outcomes! While the other babies are having high fevers, dehydration, and hospitalization, Shaklee babies are usually experiencing mild cold symptoms. Big difference! They are also more developmentally advanced.  Why give your baby anything else?

Infertility can also be due to poor nutrition. It takes time for your body to grow new healthy cells. Taking the Shaklee Vitalizer and Energizing Protein on a daily basis for 6 months prior to conception could make a big difference! Try it! What have you got to lose? Shaklee is a guaranteed product. If you don’t feel better in 30 days, you can get your money refunded.

Shaklee suggests taking at least: 2 Vita-Lea Multivitamin, 1 B-Complex, and 1 Calcium Complex daily during pregnancy.  The Shaklee Vitalizer Strip provides these nutrients and also the omega-3 fatty acids known to be crucial in fetal brain development.

In today’s society we eat less nutritious foods due to both lack of time for preparation and the conditions of the food we purchase. Preservatives, pesticides and dyes are also enemies to our bodies. Without the proper nutrients our bodies cannot get rid of the harmful substances we put in them. All of this leads to poor nutrition, without us even realizing it. Don’t take chances with your future. Start a Shaklee supplement program today!” Terry Gyde – midwife