All lives matter!

    

     Today I have decided not to post about my It Works business. My heart is heavy with the way our country is going. There is so much hate and anger in the world.
     I don't understand why this is happening? For years there have been so many fights, and wars based on the differences of humans. These differences range from religious choices to the color of our skin. I can go back at least a 200 years with examples. We have the Native Americans who were forced off of their land,  the Civil War and the fight against slavery, WWII and Hitler and  his opinion of the Jewish people, the Japanese Americans who were citizens of the United States and forced into camps, and so many other examples. 

     What have we learned from our past? Apparently nothing. We are still trying to pick one religion that is better than the other. Why can't we be ok with just letting everyone having their own beliefs? None of us really know who or what God is, isn't it enough that we have something to believe in. To pray to when times are hard. Be it Buddha, a sun god, Jehovah, or the Virgin Mary, this is something that gives us hope.
     Now the focus is on skin color. Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, or whatever your heritage, the color of your skin does not define which race is better than the other. It is great to have pride in your heritage, to celebrate what makes you who you are! But underneath that skin we all are made up of the same thing, we all bleed red.
     Why are we all of the sudden hating cops and shooting everyone? What is this solving? I am not saying that a few all cops are good, there are enough reports in history that prove this. But to the person who refused to set next to a cop at a restaurant, what if that is the cop that is called to your home in an emergency? To the surgeon who had to put aside his prejudice to operate on victims, shame on you! You took an oath as a doctor to save lives and it doesn't matter who it is. That is the job you chose. I am so sad that people are acting like this.
     I wish history would stop repeating itself and that people would see the negative message we are sending our kids, the world we are leaving our kids. From one of the greatest speeches ---Martin Luther King Jr.

"I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

 will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. This is our hope. "
 

"And if America is to be a great nation this must become true....

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

        
    

Beauty

    

      I hope you had a wonderful Wednesday! It was definitely an interesting day! I always love ending the day visiting with my boys and my love. As much as I love my alone time, I must say I miss having everyone home. Not seeing my kids for the summer is hard, I miss them so very much! This is partly why I decided to start selling It Works! It keeps me busy and provides some extra spending money ( who doesn't love a that)!
     As hard as this is to type, last summer was a rough one! It was my first summer without my kids and I worked all week, while my boyfriend worked nights every weekend. I was sad, lonely and angry. It took me having a huge life change to realize I had to change. Have you ever felt like you were so angry and you know it's wrong, but you can't stop? That was me a year ago. I never want to feel that way again!  Does it make me a weaker person- no. I had to admit to myself I needed to change and like all things you really have to want it! I now take Zoloft everyday and I don't feel ashamed. I spent many years feeling that way off and on, and now I can rationalize without getting upset.
     Fast forward to now and life has changed 100%. I had to fix my internal me before I could focus on my external self. We always find flaws with ourselves when we look in the mirror or wish we looked different in pictures. I know I am not the only one. I am woke up every morning with a " good morning beautiful". Do I feel that way? He makes me feel loved but I see 100 things I wish I could change every time I look in the mirror.  So in addition to losing weight I am going to work on feeling more beautiful!

From http://www.wikihow.com/Feel-Beautiful---- read more at this link! Great advice!
The greatest beauty tip of all is knowing that you are already beautiful as you are! Sometimes, though, it's hard to acknowledge your own beauty when you just don't feel beautiful. Here are some things you can do to remind yourself that you're already beautiful and that everyone is beautiful in some way or another. I love this!!

Journal about your positive attributes.^[1] Start a gratitude journal that highlights your appreciation for what you love about yourself the most. By staying grounded in your good qualities, both your inner and outer beauty, you will keep these things more present in your mind. This way, each time you have a moment of self-doubt or face an rude remark from someone else, the things you cherish most about yourself will be ready at hand.

Take a look at your relationships. If you have steady doses of fondness and acceptance, you will always be able to see yourself in the positive light that your loved ones do. Similarly, if you spend lots of time with overly harsh or judgmental people, you will learn to view yourself according to their rigid, critical standards. If you are filled with the notion that you are unattractive or unworthy, question whether or not someone in your life bolsters this idea.^[3]

• Make sure that you have a good support system of friends and loved ones. There’s nothing more effective than social support to make you feel strong, capable, and beautiful.

Get active. In addition to benefits like weight loss, exercise has also been linked to fewer depressive symptoms and a lowered risk of heart disease.^[8] This means that keeping a regular exercise routine will keep you feeling uplifted, energized, and secure in your good health. If you find it difficult to find the motivation to begin, try starting small by adding brisk walks to your week. Then, you can gradually increase the amount of cardiovascular or strength training exercise to the degree that your lifestyle permits.

• Try to exercise in ways that increase your flexibility. This way you will learn to see your body as something that is always evolving and changing.

So here is my challenge----I want each one of you to post one thing about yourself in the comments that you find beautiful about yourself! Let's get positive!

My Journey is my choice :)

     Yesterday was a long day, maybe because it was Wednesday? Maybe it was because I woke up to a rainy, windy view out my window and I couldn't walk? Or maybe it was a text I got shortly after I woke up. All day I sat and thought about this, I never sent a text back. I had no idea what to say. Later I logged on to Facebook to see post about how It Works Fat Fighters were a scam, from the same person. I still didn't say a word. I took this to bed and woke up with an answer.
     The text basically told me I had to show proof with tape measures, exact places measured on my body, and a video in the same clothes to show weight loss, that they couldn't tell  much difference in my before and after photos etc. I also had to take criticism for "being trapped" into a 3 month deal as a LC to get the BOGO wrap deal. I don't set up the business side of It Works, I sell it but the company makes it's own policies. So after feeling so great for weeks, this kind of hurt because it was from someone I respect.
     Here is my answer----I do not have to prove myself to anyone. I like the wraps and decided to sign up as a DT. This was my choice and I stand by it. I researched this for a few days before I signed up, and I have already read all of the scam reviews etc. Do these products work if you aren't trying to get healthier? I believe they work in conjunction with a healthier lifestyle. I try to drink more water and eat healthier choices. I limit my desserts now, but I still love frozen yogurt!
Do I diet, nope!
Do I walk more, yes!
Do I take the fat fighters everyday, no!
Do I believe the greens help me, yes!
Do I love Thermofit, yes!
Do I believe the wraps work, yes!

     The only person I have to prove myself to is me. I have to prove I can do this, it's my choice. I like who I am starting to see in the mirror . Do I still have a long ways to go, you bet! I have always had a weight problem and I have lost before but I always gain it back. I don't want that to happen this time, it is MY choice to take these products.

This was the beginning of May and I was 208!

 
 
 

This is this morning and I am 201!

 

I don't feel the need to prove myself to others, but to prove myself to myself Monica Bellucci. IMG

 

Wednesday and role models :)

 

Good morning!! It is Wednesday and that means we are 1/2 way through the week! Today made me think about role models. We all have them, those people who inspire us to be better. My #1 role model was my grandpa. I talked about him on Father's Day, he was an amazing man. I have many friends who inspire me, each in their own way. I find myself blessed in so many ways. Am I a role model? I hope so, I hope that I teach my kids right from wrong everyday. That I inspire them to reach for the stars, and that nothing is impossible.

     Now for famous ladies....I have 3 who I just absolutely love. Melissa McCarthy, Lucille Ball, and Betty White. Not only are these ladies hilarious, they are all very beautiful. I love to laugh and these girls are great at that! They have all made it in a world where age and beauty are a huge factor. Lucy made it to TV in the 50's with an interracial marriage (not common then) and her show was a success. Melissa McCarthy is so funny and a great role model! She is beautiful at any size but she looks fantastic!! And Betty, well she is just amazing! She goes for great causes, and even has an older actress she is a hoot! Plus she makes old age look fantastic! Who are your role models?

If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.

- Catherine Aird

 
 

  

Facing a fear!

     Today I faced one of my biggest fears---I had to talk myself into it but I did it! What did I do?? I wore my first 2 piece bathing suit in public, on a beach. This may sound like a silly fear but for me, it was a huge step! Did anyone laugh at me or point in my direction? Not that I noticed. I was more self conscious than everyone around me. Until a month ago I would have never dreamed my mid section was sexy. Is it completely toned and fit? Nope, and I am ok with that. Why? Because I know I am working on my goals and that it will take time.  I am down almost 10 pounds!! Is this easy, no way but it is so worth it!

     On another positive note, my boyfriend is getting up and walking with me! He also started using Berry Greens every morning! I love that my partner in life is being motivated by me! He is also my motivation. He tells me "Good Morning Beautiful" everyday! 
    
     What are your fears? Do you have personal body images? I want you on my team, the extra money is nice but that's not my goal. I want to help people feel the way I am feeling, to be the better you, healthy! Let's get you there!! I also made me a Facebook page that has more product info @wrappedupindreams or https://rhagan.itworks.com/