I’ve been sitting at a plateau weight for months now.  There is a number I just can’t get under. I bounce around about 5 lbs above it but never get less.  This isn’t because I’ve lost so much weight that it is hard to lose any more.  I’ve gained so much weight in the last year that I’m horrified.

We all have our different lines that we will not cross.  One of mine was to never get bigger than a size 16 so I didn’t have to shop in special stores.  I can still fit into my size 16 clothes but they are getting tight.  I’m aiding and abetting my denial by only buying stretchy clothes and scrubs.

I’ve been trying to lose weight.  Nothing is working.  I work out 4-5 days a week.  I even did a week of strict calorie watching and posting everything I ate online. I gained weight.  I’m starting to get scared.  I’m sure that part of this is hormonal. I’m 46.  I’m probably in perimenopause.  That may mean that this will only get worse and in a few months I could be looking back fondly at this size and wishing I was here again.

I’ve never been a person to put any stock in meal replacement shakes but I need to shake things up hard.  So, I’m going to do the Arbonne 30 Days to Healthy challenge.  It is a whole system of drinks.  If you are looking to lose weight with it, you are supposed to use a shake for breakfast and lunch followed up with whole-food dairy-free gluten-free snacks and dinner.  There are also pre- and probiotic drinks and fiber supplements to mix in.  There is a liver supportive tea and some energy-type drinks too.  Lots of drinking.  I may need a chart to keep it all straight.

One of the things that appealed to me about this is really sad.  The person talking about it said that she makes up her shakes the night before she needs them.  I am so freaking lazy in the morning that I can’t get myself to make breakfast smoothies.  Seriously, how much time does that take?  I skip it and hit the McDonald’s drive through.  That takes longer and is worse for me than making a smoothie.  But, I would make the time to make shakes the night before.

I’m going to be documenting my journey for the next 30 days in my Instagram stories at @dvmheather and I started a new Instagram just for this at @arbonnechallenge. 

I have a Zozo suit to get precise measurements every week.  I have a coworker who is going to do this with me.  We will be accountable to each other and if we get cranky we have to take it out on each other and no one else. 

Has anyone ever tried this before or know someone who has?  I had never heard of it but I have a coworker who said she did it before and lost 30 lbs.  I’m not sure how long she did it for. 

Other than size and weight, I will also monitor:

  • Episodes of gastric reflux.  I don’t have this all the time but I’d like not to have it at all.
  • IBS flares.  Cutting dairy should fix that up for me all on its own. 
  • Psoriasis – The freaking holy grail of my health issues.  I’ve had it since I was a kid.  Nothing helps it but I’m not willing to go on the super hard core drugs for it.  It is an autoimmune inflammatory disease.  In theory, increased overall health could help it.  I’m not holding my breath on this one but it would be a nice side effect.