How did this start?

Someone asked me today if I remember anything about the day the head pain started. I have gone through that in my mind so many times!

First, I'm not entirely sure if it started on March 13 or a little before. I have it in my head (ha) that it started one day on my way to body pump class. I remember it being pretty bad and taking some Advil to get it down. For some reason, that's the day that I tie to the event. I remember sharing a picture of me when I was little and Rylee and that they looked similar - that's why I can pinpoint the date. I am able to reference exactly when that picture was posted. 

I also vaguely remember maybe having it when I took my kids to the Nampa Rec Center to go swimming. I remember Josiah had a friend in town and I remember kind of feeling it in there all day. This event was probably a few days before!

I have always wondered if body pump did something physically - that is, if this is even a physical problem. I remember the instructor saying you should only be doing it a few days a week and I was doing it like every day. You put a heavy bar on your shoulders. Then came the neck pain and accompanying head pain (which is the primary problem, who knows, the chicken or the egg). So could that have damaged something? Possibly, but you would think the six different chiropractors I've seen (and I'm talking full programs where I went multiple times per week) would have done at least something. They would at least make me feel a little better - which I really can't say they do much for me.

I also took a bunch of antibiotics in November/December leading into this problem - it started in March. February was my one "healthy month." I was having weird bladder issues where I always felt like I needed to pee! They always assumed it was a UTI, would give me antibiotics for it, and then would call me back and say you can stop the meds, the culture showed nothing. This happened so many times! So maybe I had some kind of virus, bacteria, etc. and it set off something auto-immune related? I also stopped using birth control around this time so I wondered if I messed up my hormones as well.

The last thing that was going on at this time was I was taking an online makeup course - The Money Method. This health issue came on really close to a time where we all "shared our truths." It was a lot of deep, emotional stuff that everyone shared. It was wild because we hardly knew each other. I think that's what made it feel like a safe space to share. So I have always wondered if I opened something up emotionally. I don't know what to do about that. It's much harder to fix things emotionally than physically, it seems. Or perhaps I opened myself up to a lot of emotional baggage from other people? Took the burdens on myself?

My symptoms are constant head pain (not always a headache, it's hard to explain the difference). It's a constant pressure. Pressure in my eyes, general pressure in my head. I almost always have neck pain on the right side. I get nausea and anxiety when it gets really bad. Advil and other NSAIDS seem to take the edge for a bit, but then it's right back. They never completely get rid of the feeling either. I have literally had some form of head pain for over 1,000 days. I don't think people can even comprehend that. 

Thoughts?

From CDA to Boise to Denver: Getting Through the Mommy Isolation

Isolation as a mamma is so, so real. You are surrounded by tiny humans all day long –  but you’ve never felt so alone.

I became a mom at a very young age. I was eighteen but turned nineteen just a few weeks after she was born. It’s interesting to look back at the different phases in my life as a mom. I was a teen mom; I was a working mom; I was a student mom. All of that to say, I dealt with being a mom and the isolation that comes with it differently at different points throughout the last nine years.

At nineteen years old, I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by family. I lived with my parents, so I was never “alone.” I also had a few friends who had kids young, so I think we rallied together. Life was actually very busy between having a kid, finishing college, and working at Dutch Bros. so I wouldn't say I felt lonely - I simply felt different. 

Things really shifted when I had my second kid, and we moved further away from family (about a 20 min drive). I used to drive to my parent’s house every day after Beckham was born and just SOB. Those were some dark years. Both Josiah and I would tell you that we don’t look back on our time in Post Falls with fondness. I don’t have much advice that I learned from this season. The newborn stage is rough and I think you just have to grit your teeth and get through it – at least in my experience.

Fast forward, and Josiah was offered a job in Boise. I had never moved (far away) in my life, so I was pretty terrified. But you know what I did as soon as I got there? I’m not kidding, within a few weeks of living there, I put myself on the friend-making app, Bumble. I had joked there should be a friend app like Tinder, and a bunch of people said there was! I met two girls on that app that were amazing. You have to sort through a few weirdos (okay, maybe a lot), but there are gems to be found!

From there, we were blessed with the BEST neighbors. Seriously Luybov, if you read this, you inspired me as a friend. She invited me to her girls’ nights. She invited me to Body Pump classes at the gym. She didn’t have to do that. I feel like if you already have a group of close friends, the last thing you’re thinking about doing is including the new girl. The same thing goes for Rylee’s best friend’s mom: Victoria. I feel like they both went out of their way to include me (and Ry) in things. So a huge thing I learned is to be like these people. I strive to be that person today. If you don’t have those outgoing friends in your life, BE THAT FRIEND! We all need them!

From there, we found an amazing church. Stonehill is a special place and if anyone from there is reading this, you know it’s true! That was the most connected I have ever felt to a church, and it really helped give me purpose. The pastor's wife, Heather, was another great example of someone being an outgoing friend. I didn’t ask to co-lead a Bible study – she told me I was doing it! And you know what? It was so, so good for me. We had a great small group, we met great people, and Boise will always hold a special place in my heart.

What I miss most about living there was having my SIL, BIL, and nephew just fifteen mins away. They followed us and we were so glad they did! They became our very best friends. Between a great church, putting myself on a friend app, and having a little bit of family nearby, that really pulled me through my first big move and the isolation of being a mom.

Okay, moving on to more recent. Oh man, the Denver move was rough. I felt like I had just gotten settled in Boise. I had friends and family and community. And now Josiah wanted me to do it all over again? Was this a joke? On top of having to reestablish myself, I was (and still am) dealing with New Daily Persistent Headache. Basically, a headache showed up on March 12, 2017, and it decided never to leave. I really let my chronic pain control my life for the first six months we lived in Denver. It just felt so overwhelming. I could barely get through the day, take care of my kids, and get my work done – there was no way I could get out there and make new friends.

I’m not sure when something shifted, but it did. I got tired of feeling sorry for myself. I stopped crying (as much). So here is where I really wanted to get to with this article:

First, I joined a small group and started volunteering at church. That got me connected with some amazing people. It also gave me something to look forward to every Friday night and Sunday morning. I knew I could get through anything because I had things on the calendar.

Second, I go to the gym almost every single day. I know that as a mom, it seems tough to go to the gym. You think you can’t work out. Okay first off, you can. Work out at home! I used Tone it Up videos and my elliptical for the first couple years of Beckham’s life. From there, when he got old enough and willing to go to the gym daycare, I made going to the gym a priority. You guys – I love the gym so much. I know that’s weird but I love my barre classes, my cycle classes, all of it! I love that I see the same people there every week. I’ve made some good friends in these classes. So stop making excuses and force your kid to go to the gym daycare. They will stop crying eventually – I promise. And you will feel so much better about yourself for getting out of the house and doing something for yourself.

Okay, lastly I joined a MOPS group. I love these ladies! We get so real with each other and, again, it gives me something to look forward to!

So seriously, stop making excuses. Stop sitting at home and feeling isolated. You choose (to an extent) to be isolated. I know, because I did it for a long time. If someone with chronic headaches can get up and make friends, be active, keep her job, take care of her kids, and be married, so can you!

Sports Bras and Barre Class

"I should NOT have worn a long-sleeve to class today. Oh my gosh, it's so hot in here. Would it be weird if I took my shirt off and just wore my sports bra? That would be so weird. You can't just take your shirt off in the middle of class. I can't get away with that anyway. I would have to suck in for the rest of class. I mean, I am wearing high waisted pants so not much would be showing, but still."

If you're wondering, I kept the long-sleeve on for the duration of class. But my internal dialogue got me thinking. Thinking about how I've struggled with my "weight" my entire life.

I very clearly remember being in 4th grade, going swimsuit shopping, and telling my mom I was fat. She cried. She probably doesn't even remember this, but I do.

How terrible that I felt that way. What would even make me think that at such a young age? For years after that, I just wanted to be "skinny." I remember seeing girls wearing tight t-shirts in high school and thinking I couldn't do that.

Or, on the flip side, I knew what I could get away with. I knew I had smaller legs so I wore tight pants and looser shirts, thinking that showed where I was small and hid where I wasn't.

Strangely, I got the smallest I've ever been after I had Rylee. A magic pill called Saviina that made you not want to eat. I remember feeling proud that all I'd had to eat that day was a piece of toast and coffee.

Josiah and I were broken up and he thought I was "on drugs" because of how skinny I was. I didn't care, I thought I looked great.

I'm now 28 years old. Does the cycle ever break? Are we ever happy with how we look? It's possible, but it's tough. I've truly had a mindset shift the last several years. I started counting macros on and off (more off than on). It made me much more aware of what I was eating. Do I still eat junk? All the time! Life is too short to say no to the Reeses in your kid's Halloween basket. But I also eat plenty of healthy things.

At this point, all I want is to be STRONG and HEALTHY. Being "skinny" holds zero appeal for me anymore. I don't let my kids see me step on the scale. I take them to the gym with me daily. I make sure they see the importance in moving my body, rather than criticizing it.

It's a journey - that's for sure.

How I’ve Survived 600 Days with a Headache (And Counting)

I am the headache and the headache is me. 

At least that’s how it feels at this point. Have you ever heard of Stockholm Syndrome? It’s a theory that states we become attached, even addicted, to our pain. At a certain point, we wouldn’t know how to live without it.

Sometimes, when I feel a little bit of clarity, I feel that way. Like who would I be without attacking this headache 24/7? Without the all-compassing task of defeating this caged monster? It’s all I’ve known for the last year and a half. What would I do if it simply went away? Would I feel happy or would I feel lost – like part of my identity was missing?

I assume, if that day ever comes, that I would be excited but also frustrated because why didn’t I find the “cure” sooner? I would grieve the loss of time. All of the life events that I couldn’t enjoy because all I wanted was to go home to my peppermint essential oil and ice pack.

I was at MOPS last night and, per usual, I got emotional when my headache got brought up. We were talking about having a support team – a “safe” person that you can share the “messy” with. This conversation got me thinking about how I’ve survived, and even sometimes thrived, during the most painful season of my life.

I thought it might be helpful to share some of these points with others. I don’t think these are universal to pain. The thing is, all of us will experience a difficult season in our lives and we have to know how to cope.

On the other hand, I also think it’s therapeutic to write. I felt like I needed to write this for myself. My hope is that some of these points may help someone else and that my experience hasn’t been for nothing.

1.    Find a support system. My headache showed up on March 12, 2017. I categorize my life into two parts: pre-headache and post-headache. I look at memories on Facebook and think, “Oh, two years ago. That’s before I was sick.”

I met my friend AJ on social media in January of 2018. That means I went almost an entire year doing this alone. Sure, I have my family. My husband has always been supportive and, sometimes reluctantly, let me spend whatever I needed to attack this thing. My friends and family have prayed over me relentlessly. They have rebuked this headache. They have commanded it to leave. The headache doesn’t listen. And while a supportive family is important, the number one thing you absolutely need when going through something difficult is someone who is going through the exact same thing.

In January 2018, I posted a question on a migraine support page and AJ messaged me. I should really go back and find our first message, but it was basically along the lines of, “OH MY GOSH, YOUR STORY IS IDENTICAL TO MINE.” Having someone who knows exactly what you’re going through is invaluable. I’ll say it again for the people in the back. If you need ONE THING during a difficult season, it’s someone facing the same storm.

Now, finding that person might be tough and I don’t have a proven way to find a supportive friend. But I do know that social media is an amazing tool. What are you going through? Find a support group. There are so many Facebook groups today. And furthermore, be more transparent about your situation. How can anyone say “me too” if they don’t know your situation?

Now, I’m not saying you should complain day in and day out because that’s a sure-fire way to lose friends. But if you’re struggling, say something! I promise, someone else will say they are struggling too.

I remember when I first got my headache, and it came with crippling anxiety and several panic attacks (those have long since passed, thank goodness). But in talking about how I was struggling with anxiety, I opened the door to SO many people who were struggling with anxiety as well. There is a strange comfort in knowing that someone else is going through the same thing.

So what is my point here? Is it to find a random person on FB and befriend them? That worked in my case, but start with being open and transparent and see who messages you. I promise, someone will.

2.    Find something you can look forward to. When you’re living in survival mode, it can be hard to see past today. I’ve spent a lot of days just trying to make it until bedtime. But one thing I’ve found is that you need something to look forward to.

I had never watched The Bachelorette or The Bachelor until a couple of years ago. I watched Jojo’s season and then took a break. In January, after a couple of friends asked if I was watching, I decided to jump on the bandwagon. Does the show have questionable morals at times? Does my family judge me for watching it? Yes and yes. But did it give me something to look forward to every Monday night? One hundred percent. “Only three more days until the bach is on. I can totally make it.”

Find something that you can look forward to. I would recommend something short-term. A trip in three weeks. A party next weekend. And keep your eye on the prize. You can make it!

3.    Get involved. This point kind of piggybacks on the previous one. Find something you can look forward to but also get involved in something. Distraction has been one of my greatest weapons. It’s when I sit around at home and wallow in my pain that things get dark.

As soon as the headache showed up, I fell at the feet of Jesus. I prayed harder than I’ve ever prayed in my life. And while I’m not on my face every single day, the thorn in my side does keep me focused on Him. It’s a reminder that I need him. That being said, I immediately dove into volunteering at church. I started doing greeting. I co-led a Bible study (even if I had to take a handful of ibuprofen before every session). When we moved to Colorado, I found a church immediately and got plugged in. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to skip a small group session or stay home because of my pain, but I do so much better when I get out there – when I don’t focus on myself and my problems.

4.    Listen to positive messages. You are what you put in – and no, I’m not talking about food here. The content you consume plays a huge role in your mindset. For that reason, I’m pretty selective with what I watch or listen to.

The number one thing (besides a support group) that has got me through the last year and a half has been listening to messages from Steven Furtick of Elevation Church. Literally every Monday, as soon as the message posted around noon, I would listen to it. I’m not as on the dot these days, but I do usually listen to the new message by Wednesday. I am dead serious when I say I want to visit Elevation Church in North Carolina. That is the sole reason I want to go there – for a church service. 

Now, I don’t want to put Steven Furtick on a pedestal. He isn’t what has saved me – it’s God speaking through him that has given me the hope and encouragement to push through. Not a church person? Listen to a few of his messages anyway and their worship albums while you’re at it. Wow, talk about music that has gotten me through some serious, on the closet floor panic attacks.

5.    Do what's necessary to get by. While I permanently have a headache from the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep, the level of severity fluctuates. I can do a one just fine every day. It’s when it gets up to a 3-5 with nausea that I can’t hang. I’ve learned that there are days when you just need to do what’s necessary to get by. If I wake up and have a raging migraine at 9 am, there’s no point in trying to push through. Just take the ibuprofen, knock the pain back to a one, and move on with your day. Don’t try to be a hero and don’t feel bad about it.

6.    Take care of yourself. Okay, I take it back. You are what you eat. Take a look at your diet. Do I eat perfectly? Do I think diet is the answer to everything? Definitely not, but I think it plays a huge role. Get more protein, drink more water, and move your body. Personally, I do not drink alcohol. Like ever. I don’t enjoy it, and it’s not worth it to me. I cut my caffeine and only drink water (for the most part). More than that, I move my body every day. I can’t tell you how many headaches I’ve kicked down in severity by heading to the gym. Something about getting your blood moving really helps with pain – just trust me.

Onto day 601.

"The Pushy Friend"

I felt emotional today and I didn’t know what to do, so I decided to write it here. At church, the speaker talked about a few parables, one of which was the “pushy friend.” It’s a story from Luke about someone who knocks on their neighbor’s door and asks for some bread. The neighbor doesn’t answer the door but Jesus says to keep knocking. If you keep knocking, the neighbor will eventually answer and you’ll get what you came for.

I feel like I have been knocking for 15 months. I have prayed daily that God would take this from me. That I would wake up one day and this headache would be gone and it would soon be nothing but a memory. But every day I wake up and it’s still there. Maybe not as bad as it was yesterday, but also maybe worse than it was yesterday. Even if it does lift, I never feel normal. I can feel it in there, in its cage, angry that it’s locked up for now.

I don’t understand why God would leave someone by the pool for 40 years, begging to be healed. It seems like a waste of a life to me. I feel like the last year and a half of my life has been wasted. What’s the point? What is the point of being alive if you don’t feel well enough to enjoy it? Being sick is lonely. It’s so lonely. You don’t have the energy to go out and be social but you’re depressed because you’re not being social. What came first? The chicken or the egg? The depression from being sick or the sickness coming from depression?

Don’t get me wrong. There are good days. There have been plenty of good days. But my “good days” are a lot different than what I would have considered a good day a few years ago. I felt emotional thinking about these things during church. But I felt encouraged to keep knocking. To keep asking God to heal me, even if I don’t understand why he hasn’t already.

The pastor also had us do a little exercise. We had to think of a “3 a.m. friend” that we would call if something happened and we needed help - not a family member. I couldn’t really think of anyone, at least not in Colorado. We had to tell the person sitting next to us who we would choose and why. The lady next to me was so sweet and after the service, she gave me her number and told me she would be my 3 a.m. person. To call her if I needed anything. I could barely hold back my tears. I don't know that I'll ever call that lady, but I really appreciated it.

My Quest for a Natural Deodorant That Doesn't SUCK!

Okay, you guys. A few of you have probably seen me ask for recommendations for a good, natural deodorant or seen me recommend things and then retract my statement.

Most people also know that I have struggled with headaches for MONTHS and have been trying to get to the root of the problem. One of the things I’ve done is really taken a look at the products I use on a daily basis. I stopped using regular shampoo/conditioner for a while. Took a close look at my beauty products and stopped using dry shampoo – GASP. I swapped the cleaning products I use in my home. I try to buy organic food whenever I can.

All of that to say, deodorant is a big one. Like, it could be causing breast cancer, yikes! But do you know how hard it is to find a natural deodorant that actually works? I have been on the hunt since July and here’s what I’ve found:

OhMyGaia $10

https://www.mountainmadnesssoap.com/products/goddess-natural-deodorant

This is the first deodorant I tried. I was super excited as it seemed to be working just peachy. My mom was the first one to have a reaction; a few weeks later I was in the same boat. It wasn’t painful but my armpits were covered in little red bumps. Not the best look in the middle of summer so I threw the cute little jar away.

TOM'S $6

http://www.tomsofmaine.com/product-details/wicked-cool-kids-deodorant

https://www.amazon.com/Toms-Maine-Deodorant-Aluminum-free-Lavender/dp/B001FB5O9A

Next up, I tried two different kinds of TOM'S brand deodorant. The first one was called “Wicked Cool.” It was the only one Target had so I figured I’d give it a shot. I think it’s made for younger girls so when it didn’t work, I wasn’t super surprised. No reaction but I don’t feel like being stinky, thanks. Literally zero odor protection whatsoever. So I decided to try the “adult” lavender version from Natural Grocers. Once again, no reaction but really didn’t work at all. The whole point of deodorant is just that – to deODOR! 

Schmidt's $6

https://www.amazon.com/Schmidts-Deodorant-Stick-Lavender-Ounce/dp/B01851E0R4

At this point, I am pretty tired of wasting my money. I ask around for some recommendations and hear that Schmidt’s is pretty decent.

To be fair, I was warned that this one might irritate my skin. They have a regular and a sensitive version; I was told the sensitive was better but was too lazy to find it. I bought the regular kind at, you guessed it, Target.

Once again, this worked well for a little while. I actually recommended it to a few people! My only complaint was that it was SUPER hard to apply. Like very hard and did not glide on. But then came the wrath! Oh my gosh, worst pain you guys. I literally spent a Friday night icing my armpits because they hurt so bad. “Yuuuuuuge” welts that took a week to go away. I absolutely would not recommend this product. The problem may have been that I applied right after shaving, but still. I want something I can use immediately, so this is a no-go.

Primal Pit Paste $13

https://primalpitpaste.com/products/coconut-lime-natural-deodorant-jar-1

That brings us to today. I used coconut oil for a week while I waited for my armpits to heal. Fun times!

A few people recommended primal pit paste, so I ordered some on Amazon. It came pretty fast and the product smells great – I got the coconut lime kind. It seems to work decently but you will need to reapply midday. No irritation (knock on wood), yet! However, I only received the product on Sunday so we are at less than a week of use.

If this one fails me, as natural deodorants seem to do, I will try Piper Wai. I saw it on Shark Tank and I am always down for a Shark Tank product.

Phew! I have certainly wasted a good chunk of money on my quest for a natural deodorant. What are your experiences with them? Have you found one that’s amazing?

MLM Nightmare: My Experience with Advocare, Isagenix, Truvision, and More

Advocare, Isagenix, and Truvision, oh my! Here's a roundup of how I felt about some of the most popular MLM products on the market today. And, as a disclaimer, these are just MY experiences. I know people who all of these programs have worked amazingly for and that's great. Different things work for different people. These are what did and didn't work for me:

Advocare

Oh, the 24-day challenge. I can do anything for 24 days, right? Wrong. I cannot drink chalky drinks, fluffy shakes and take horse pills. I’m honestly not sure how I came across the Advocare program. It was a couple years after having my daughter and I was looking to be a little healthier.

Let’s just start with the meal replacement shakes. I’m a big fan of shakes – I like Slim Fast shakes for crying out loud. I’d drink Jamba Juice everyday if you let me. These shakes were not good. They fluffed up like crazy and were not appetizing. I wound up asking for my money back on them immediately. I’m not gonna pay good money to drink something that sucks.

And then there were the fiber drinks. The chalky, thick mixture that I had to plug my nose and chug in order to avoid throwing up. When my distributor gave me the package, she straight up told me that she avoids the fiber drinks and never drinks them. That was a great sign – I probably should have just grabbed my money and ran!

Then, there were the horse pills – I mean the vitamins. The multiple packages of pills you had to choke down every day. I kid you not, they were so big that they hardly fit down my throat. I still think I have packs laying around that I never finished.

Lastly, there was spark. The Advocare version of an energy drink that actually wasn’t half bad. It reminded me of Zipfizz but I don’t remember feeling super energized drinking it. The one positive that came from my Advocare experience was that it introduced me to the idea of clean eating and that’s something I’ve worked on ever since.

Isagenix

I’ve given the Isagenix program a shot a few times. Maybe not a fair shot, but a shot. The first time, I was given the product as a trade. I found the schedule, rules and was ready to go. The main focus of the program is the shakes – and they were not good. They fluffed up and were difficult to drink. I was able to add a banana and cinnamon to make them bearable but they advise against that. Plus, I was still hungry after drinking the shakes. What’s the point of a meal REPLACEMENT shake if I need to eat a meal after the shake because I’m still hungry?

Let’s talk about cleanse days. The terrible, awful cleanse days. I still get worked up thinking about these. The idea is that our body will shed fat fast if you go 2 days without eating the first and second week. No sh*t you’re going to lose weight if you don’t eat. On my second time with the program, I made it until about 4 PM on the first cleanse day before I threw in the towel. “Hangry” does not even begin to cover it. I wanted to murder someone, throw my cleanse drink at the wall and eat everything in my pantry. I had apple pie that night…and ice cream. I think a big part of the cleanse for me was mental. I’ve never not eaten in my life and I don’t think it’s healthy to do so. Just my opinion and Isa wasn’t for me!

I will say that I’ve seen people achieve amazing transformations with ISA. Both my mom and sister look amazing. My mom looks the best I’ve ever seen her in my life! But I think that if you bought any protein shake, had it for two meals and a 600 calorie dinner, and then fasted for 2 days at a time, you would achieve similar results and without spending $400.

Truvison

This product is one of the most recent ones I tried. Someone I went to school with dropped crazy weight taking the product and looked amazing. She told me it was a magic pill. That she didn’t change her eating habits or workout and the weight just melted off. Well, of course I’m gonna try it with results like that. Unfortunately, all it did was make me sick. And I’m talking so nauseous that I thought I was pregnant and barely made it to the store to buy a test.

I gave the product a valliant effort and bought three weeks of sample packs. The problem I had was that you were required to take the pills twice a day. The first dose wasn’t a problem but I could never remember the second dose. I was told that consistency was key, but unfortunately, I suck at being consistent.

The product did suppress my appetite so that was good. But at $100 for a month, I would rather eat $1 bills to keep myself full.

Saviina

I freaking love Saviina. Seriously, if you want to drop weight, then go buy Saviina right now. My normal weight is around 125 pounds and I got down to 112 pounds (within two weeks) when I took Saviina for the first time. My back bones were sticking out and my shorts were falling off – but I was stoked. I would buy the company if they would let me. I would seriously invest in a heartbeat. I’ve tried to become a distributor but they only allow so many in one area – boooooo.

 I took it before my wedding, my honeymoon, basically for every special occasion. Unfortunately, it seems to lose its effectiveness after the first time. It still might help you drop a few pounds but it’s definitely not the same.

SO many of my mom friends dropped the baby weight using Saviina. It really is like a magic pill, but magic isn’t always the best route. Saviina makes girls crazy bitchy – ask any guy who’s had a girlfriend use the product. I think it comes down to that you’re hardly eating so you become very agitated. It also gave me anxiety and dry mouth, but hey, you only need to get through two weeks of being a little crazy to see results.  Beauty is pain, right?

Thrive

Finally, thrive entered the picture. My friend Michelle offered to send me a 3-day sample and I felt the difference the first day. I had so much energy that I wanted to go running – and I HATE running. If you’ve ever taken a preworkout, the feeling is similar to that. You can literally feel the energy coursing through your veins.

Here’s what I love about the product. It’s SO, SO simple. Wake up and take two capsules on an empty stomach. Remember me saying I have a weak stomach? I’ve been just fine taking these. After 15-20 mins, drink the shake and slap on the patch, and you’re done.

The feedback I’ve heard from others has been amazing. My husband said there was no way this could be good for him because he felt like he was on drugs. But here’s the thing – you feel great because you’re putting good stuff into your body! Vitamins, probiotics, and more. The old saying rings true, “Put good in, get good out.”

What scared me away at first was the cost. $160? There’s no way I can afford that! “Oh, but it’s $5 a day, you spend that on coffee!” I hate when people say that to me. I would rather spend $5 a day than $160 at once. People don’t think in the long term – think about right now and what it will cost right this instant.

A couple months went by of me feeling drained and I finally decided I’d had enough. I ordered Thrive and it was well worth the investment. Can’t afford it? Go sell some things you don’t need. Go through and purge your closet. Sell your old cellphone. Avoid eating out for one week. You can find the money and it’s well worth the investment in your health – I promise!

brimanes.le-vel.com

Thrive Ingredients: