In January 2017, I maxed out my FSA and gleefully dropped it all in one big, quick transaction: PRK surgery.

PRK is a laser vision correction surgery similar to Lasik with one key difference: the corneas are "sanded away" prior to correction vs. having a flap cut, resulting in a longer healing time. I couldn't see at all for a week post-op.

Sounds great, right? You can read in more detail about that journey starting here, but know that PRK was the right option for me vs. Lasik because my prescription was strong. I was so nearsighted that the first provider I consulted with wouldn't even guarantee me a full correction. There are other reasons to consider when deciding between Lasik and PRK, but the decision was made for me because of that factor.

I now get an eye exam annually for two main reasons:

The short answer: I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Read on for the details...

Was it worth it?

I started the Arbonne 30 Days to Healthy Living Challenge in 2019 when I finally decided enough was enough. I was disgusted with my body and it was affecting more than just my vanity. During those 30 days, I posted weekly updates but not a "final" results post.

My reasoning was simple: I finished 30 days, but I'm wasn't finished. I continued 2019 in "maintenance mode" losing a few more pounds and becoming in better shape overall.


I'm in the midst of my second "true" 30 day program, and now seems as good a time as any to share the scale and non-scale victories from the program throughout 2019.

Non-scale victories

• Fewer naps needed
• Fewer headaches
• Resting heart rate decreased
• No "afternoon slump" at work
• Fewer side effects during "that time" including no weight gained (I'd often gained 3+ lbs during my cycle and blamed the hormones)
• Easier to exercise

My most popular post of all time is the recipe for Arbonne Protein Bars. I'm not surprised—they're easy and delicious!

2 of the ingredients, however, aren't compliant with a strict 30 day challenge. While I haven't found a swap to make them fully compliant, I've found a new and improved way to make these with only one forbidden ingredient: honey! They satisfy my sweet tooth and are a way cleaner option than most desserts. I follow the program at about 80% now and honey is one of the ingredients I let slide, especially since I only generally have it in these protein balls.

The chocolate version is very similar to the original bars, using almond butter in place of peanut butter. The kick of cinnamon in the vanilla version makes them equally satisfying. My hubby has been reaching for both since I started making them—let me know which variety you like best!

I had planned to share "before and after" photos at the end of my first Arbonne30, but really, I'm not finished, so there isn't a true "after" to show. I put on a lot of weight over time, and it's going to take some time for it to come off. Thankfully, it is coming off. I've been on the program for about 6 weeks now and have lost 20 lbs, 14 inches, and 1 clothing size while gaining better health (including reduced blood pressure and resting heart rate), more energy, and more confidence.

I've been getting lots of questions about how the program works, what it entails, etc. for awhile. What I can share and have been sharing is how it works for me. The choices I make are ones to ensure that I succeed with this program.



For instance, I choose lunch as my meal where many others choose dinner. I choose to prep one lunch for the entire week to ensure I don't get lazy and eat out while others who may love to cook are happy to come home and cook a different dinner every night (shout out to my husband who's taken responsibility for most of his own dinners like a champ!).

With that in mind, these are 4 tools that  have made the program a breeze for me:

1. Personal Blender

No lugging out a huge blender twice a day and cleaning a bunch of pieces. No paying crazy $$$ for systems like Magic Bullet.

There are so many affordable options on Amazon and after some digging and comparing, I opted for this $25 system as well as a second compatible bottle.   It's small, convenient, and super low-maintenance, and I love that I don't feel guilty about leaving it on the counter since it takes up so little space! I love keeping the bottles in the fridge with the liquid already measured inside so I can just grab the solids and blend in the morning. A quick rinse of the blade after and I'm good to go!

2. Water Bottle

A huge part of the program is drinking enough water—approximately half of your weight in ounces. Having a reusable cup or bottle you like makes this super easy. I know I said "bottle", but my personal favorite most days is a 24 oz. Tervis tumbler that I keep at my desk. Most days I've met my goal before the work day is over!

3. Bluetooth Scale

Every morning I step on the scale. Whether you check daily, weekly, or whenever you feellike it, I love that I don't have to write down or remember anything. This bluetooth scale costs a fraction of Fitbit's version and syncs daily to it's own app which communicates with other tracker apps including Fitbit, apple, and more! I can easily see overall progress and I love seeing a push notification congratulating me on each weight loss milestone!

4. Food Prep Containers

I pack these up once a week and grab one from the fridge each morning on my way to work. Aside from being convenient and BPA-free, they are a great visual for appropriate portion sizes as I know exactly which compartment is best for veggies, proteins, and clean carbs.  Can't get easier than that!

3 weeks down, 1 to go!

I've been doing the Arbonne 30 days to healthy living challenge all month which involves shakes and clean eating including Arbonne products, many of which I'd already tried and loved. I've lost pounds and inches while gaining energy and overall better health.

I was worried going into week 3 because it involves an additional step: the 7 day body cleanse. 

I've heard of all sorts of side effects related to cleanses and even started mine a day early so I could try it out at home vs. work for the first two days.

Thankfully, I needn't have worried. It didn't taste bad, I didn't get headaches, I wasn't rushing to the bathroom. I did everything I did in weeks 1 and 2 plus drank this stuff every day. No sweat, really. If the label didn't say "cleanse" I could have easily mistaken it for a lemon flavored fizz stick.

I again prepped a big batch of food to prep for all my lunches: black beans and rice/quinoa with ground turkey, guacamole, and a mixed greens salad. Yum! Prepping has hands down kept me successful with the program.

At the beginning of the program I was sad to part with favorite things like bread and cheese, but I've been surprised to realize how much I love corn. I don't generally eat straight corn, so I didn't think it was an issue, but man do I miss snacking on some popcorn or the crunch of a tortilla chip with guacamole. I can definitely see it being a "cheat" food for me when I move to a maintenance plan!

Results

I lost another inch and 2 pounds this week! I've read countless articles refer to 2 lbs/week being healthy weight loss, so I'm glad to be maintaining that (my big week 1 loss was of course, water weight). I love how my clothes are fitting, and again, how I'm feeling. I'm still stunned that I haven't had a headache in 2 weeks and haven't needed a nap since beginning the program!

Bonus

Since I've already given a specific breakdown in week one, I won't bore you with a detailed play-by-play going forward. Just know that each day involves two shakes, one meal, optional snacks, and lots of tea and water. If you missed it, you can read up here.

Prep has been key for me to succeed and thankfully that involves minimal time in the kitchen. One batch of chicken I made on Sunday lasted me for four lunches this week! I've seen other participants make more elaborate meals which is awesome if you need variety. For me, prepping and having something ready during the work week is more important even if it is redundant.

I started playing around a lot more with varieties this week. Vanilla with lemon/blueberries and chocolate with strawberries are two new favorites!

I bought the huge bag of green apples from BJ's when I started the program and I'm the only one eating them, plus they're delicious! Lots of apple slices with crunchy almond butter, or veggies with hummus as well as the occasional hard boiled egg or brown rice cake with guacamole.

I bought the ingredients to prep some new recipes, but mother nature intervened: we had a birthday dinner for Sean's mom that included compliant crock pot chicken tacos. A weekend snowstorm had all the guests cancelling last minute, so lunch most of the week was leftover chicken with salad, guac, and brown rice. This setup lasted me for four lunches, and on the fifth, I decided to test the waters with eating out at Sweetgreen. I was able to order a compliant version of one of my favorite salads, guacamole greens!

I'll start this by saying my coach recommends doing a weigh-in weekly as it's easy to get discouraged if you do it daily. I see the value in this, but I also have a lot of weight to lose and don't want to waste any time if I'm not doing something properly and right now, the scale helps to tell me that. After two days in a row of minor weight gain (1/2 lb most) after consistent loss, I considered the fact that perhaps I'd fallen into a trap I never thought I would: eating too few calories. I've actually been feeling full enough that I haven't needed to eat as much as I used to. With a few tweaks to the goals in my Fitbit app, I was able to get a better idea of calories in vs. out for me (I don't "work out", but I do walk frequently). By upping the calories just a little bit, the weight loss resumed as quickly as it had stalled and I have a better idea of the "zone" I need to strive for.

It's crazy to think this is the halfway point of the challenge. I was encouraged by the first week's results, both expected and unexpected, and expected that while I'd see results this week, they'd probably slow down since we're past the "water weight loss" people like to talk about. While it was harder for the more surprising reason I just mentioned, I can definitely see there has still been progress: I lost another 2.3 lbs. and 6 inches (overall - chest, waist/hips/belly)!

This week, I continue the plan with a twist: Arbonne's 7-day body cleanse! I've never done one before, so be assured I'll be giving an honest summary of how that went for me next week!