2007 Slim Body Challenge Round Four Runner Up!
Congratulations to Jennifer Haney,
Our Round Four Runner Up in the Slim Body Challenge!
See what Jennifer Haney, our Runner Up,
|
|
Jennifer Haney (screenname miracle4me) |
|
|
1. What primary reason motivated you to start and finish the Challenge? To tell you what motivated me, I must tell you a bit of my story! After loosing my mom at the age of three, I never wanted my children to grow up without me. In March of 2004, after giving birth to a beautiful baby boy, I had no idea how close that possibility really was. When Liam was 12 days old, I went into the ER and not a moment too soon. My blood pressure was 58/28, my kidneys and intestines had already shut down and I was told later that had I waited four more hours, I would have been dead. I had invasive Group A Streptococcal infections and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation. As a result, I also developed pneumonia, sepsis, multiple organ failure, congestive heart failure and I even got a staph infection in one of my PICC lines. Huge blackish blisters covered my legs and arms, the largest was 15 inches long by 4 inches wide on my right leg. My toes were black and the skin on my legs and feet was a mottled blue-gray. My legs had swelled up to a unbelivable size and the doctor's told my husband that in order to save my life, they would have to amputate them. I will always be so greatful to my husband for having faith enough in God to heal me and restore me. My weight since then has been a issue during each of my surgeries and has affected my healing time. It would also make it more difficult to fight off the infections, if they were to come back. It is causing problems by placing extra pressure on nerves that are already damaged in my legs, ankles and feet. It has affected my quality of life by making me feel too ashamed to go out and, more importantly, hindering my efforts to play with my kids, go exploring with them and do school porjects. I havent been able to be the mom I want to be to them. I have to imporve my health so that I can be with my husband and children for a long, long time! 2. What were your results - how many inches, pounds, dress sizes, or pant sizes did you lose? Moreover, did you have nay changes in health indicators, such as cholesterol levels or blood pressure? Did your energy levels change? During the Round 4 challenge, I had hoped to lose 20 pounds, but strived for 25 pounds and reached it! I lost 23.25 inches overall and dropes my BMI from 36.3 to 32.3. When I started the round, I wore a size 20/22 in most things. My pant size has dropped from a size 22 to an 18 and I am even wearing a 16/18 in some clothes. I used to feel so sluggish and I could'nt go a day without taking a nap 3 times! And after those, I woke up feeling more refreshed than I ever had before. The supplements helped me right from the start with boosting my energy levels and helping me focus. Now, I function at a normal level and actually feel energized and excited about doing things like exercising, cleaning and playing with my kids.
Before starting this challenge, I felt so ashamed of how I looked and would avoid going out to most places. I felt like I needed to hide from the world. When I would go to the grocery store, I would avoid looking at others for fear of seeing laughter and disgust in their eyes. I just wanted to be visible. Now, I look around and smile at people and I have even started conversations with fellow shoppers. Improving my physical well being has definitly improved my mental outlook. I am getting stronger, getting thinner I have found a system for living a healthy lifestyle for the rest of my life.
I am so amazed by the results I am getting. For the first time in a long time, I actually have a waist again and that is so exciting! I am gaining muscle definition while losing my cottage-cheese thighs and shrinking my 3-baby pouch. When my husband and I get to go out on a date, I can actually dress up a bit and feel attractive. I even got a cat-call from a construction worker the other day for the first time in a really long time!
What helped me to stay motivated was being able to see consistent weight loss, losing inches and gaining muscle. The message boards and online journal to write in really helped to hold me accountable. Having the challenge to participate in, kept it managable and made the weight loss process less daunting by breaking it up into 12 week increments. Also, my 9 year old daughter has been my biggest cheerleader, exercising with me and changing her diet and choosing healthier alternatives. Hearing praise from my husband, oldest son and friends has been so encouraging. And having my 3 year old son tell me that I have a "tiny tush" hasn't hurt either!
Taking SlimBody XP was my first key to success. It gave me the energy I so desperately needed and controlled my raging hunger. It did all of this without making me feel jittery and unfocused, which other diet supplements in the past have done. The second factor was increasing my water intake. I have never been one to drink much water and in the past I was lucky to get 8oz in a day and some days I went without. Now, looking back I wonder how my body survived on such a small amount and I think about how much damage I was doing to my body. Exercising has also played a vital role in my weight loss. Not only am I growing stronger and improving my overall health, I have learned that exercising for at least 30 minutes every day has actually helped with my aches and pains and has improved my mental clarity and focus. Most days I end up working out longer than that because once I get started, it feels so good that I want to keep going!
Having damage to my nerves, muscles and tendons in my legs and feet has brought forth many challenges for me to face, but shortly before beginning the challenge in July, I started getting numbness in some of my toes and feet. As I increased my exercise routine, the numbness would happen more frequently, it gained in intensity and starting moving up into my leg. In September, I had an EMG/Nerve Conduction Study done and they found that the nerves are being compressed in my ankles and that there was no response at all from the peroneal nerve and some of the muscles in my right leg. The doctor informed me that it is imperative that I lose weight to take some of the pressure off of the nerves in my feet and ankles. I also injured the peroneal tendons in my right ankle while exercising one day, so I had to get creative with my workout routine while that healed. As a result, I have to wear a special ankle brace that immorbilizes my foot and ankle everytime I exercise, to prevent any further injuries.
I know that I would be an inspiration to others that struggle with weight loss and those who have faced life threatening illness and who have disabilities or other limitations. I have overcome obstacles with my own limitations and have seen so much success with this program. I would like to help others to see that whatever has been holding them back, whether it's a physical or mental challenge, a lack of belief in themselves or just that they've needed a friend to help them through, there isn't anything that they cannot work through to start living healthier and losing weight.
I started off using the SlimBody XP that I got through an online offer. I experienced an increase in enrgy and my appetite was much more manageable. I added Slim Seduction which has helped hit my female problem areas, reduce water retention and swelling and decrease the amount of cellulite on my belly and thighs. Each of these are wonderful products, but combining one XP with two Slim Seductions, twice a day, one dose in the morning and one in mid-afternoon, with one dose around noon of one XP has been what has worked the best for me. I do this 5 days a week and then take 2 days off from the XP, as recommended. I have recently added the CLA matrix for extra fat-burning.
You can order these and other great products at www.global-nutrition.com |
|
You have the chance to begin your own journey of transformation starting now!
All you have to do is follow the 2007 guidelines concerning product selection and how to take "before" photos, and you can begin the 2008 Slim Body Challenge. The guide will be updated soon for 2008, but all the same rules still apply from 2007. Please note: The entry dates for each round and the prizes for 2008 are yet to be determined, and will become official once posted on this website.
The complete 2007 rules and regulations can be found here: |
Before discovering Slim Body, I had given up all hope of ever being able to fully enjoy life or do the things with my kids that I used to do or had hoped to do someday. My days were filled with pain and exhaustion. I walked with a heavy limp, which made me feel like I stood out in public. I struggled with depression over what I had gone through and how my illness had put a stop to certain things in my life. Now, with gaining strength and stability, my limp is not as pronounced and I have even been able to go to places like the Desert Museum with my family and walk for 4 hours. I can take my kids for walks around our neighborhood and go to the park. These changes gave given me so much more hope for the future and things I may still be able to do.
One of the most helpful support tools that is offered is the online journal. I love having a place to write about my weight loss journey and receive feedback from others. It also helps to read how others are doing on their journeys and to be able to provide encouragemnet and support for them, too. The message boards are a great source of information and support. I have gained some wonderful friends and found delicious recipes, great exercising tips and participated in fun mini-challenges to help me get over that next hurdle. I enjoy reading Coach Josh's weekly newsletters, they have been a wealth of information and I can always apply the advice he gives to my own life.