My name is Natalie Larose and I am 31 years old.  I live in West -Kelowna BC.

I am self-employed artist/designer(jewelry&clothing).(www.nateahstudios.com)

I have always been really interested in health and grew up eating organic food.

My weight has always been on the tad heavy side, although I have done alot of physical activity in my life,I feel like I’ve always been about 20pds overweight, and have many times told myself I would lose this extra weight,

but really it has never been done….  That’s why I’d love to participate in a program like the one Prairie Naturals is offereing.

My life and business are expanding  and I would love for my health to follow this trend aswell.

I am very interested in health and in new ways/products that can help optimize wellbeing.

Please do sign me up to win a spot in the 8 week challenge !

Well, my last entry was on day 3 of the Recleanse, so I will give you an update on the rest of the 7day cleanse.

So, Friday came along and I ended up making plans with friend’s to go to Big White and then have dinner after night riding….

Well, the dinner wasn’t exactly cleanse friendly, neither was the wine I drank with it!!   Yes I admittedly cheated, on the cleanse, what a bummer, but this is something I have learned to deal with well, while on a cleanse, you just have to get back on the horse and ride again!  It’s really that easy, and we’re all human so it definitely happens, I actually allow myself to cheat now when I’m on a cleanse especially if it’s a month or more.  So, I went back to the recommended food etc, on Saturday.  I notice that the portions and amount of food they say to have with Recleanse is much more than what I presently have, and ended felling like I was eating too much!

At the end of it, I felt pretty normal because like I said in my first post, my diet is very close to what they suggested eating.

Except of coarse, the wine!  So on Tuesday it was the last day of Recleanse and I’ve put cheese and chocolate back in my diet already, no hesitating there!  It is un-pasturized cheese and 70%dark chocolate though, if that makes it any better.

I have a very busy schedule working for myself and strange work hours, sometimes I get really inspired late at night and work till 3am, so my schedule is all over the place, and I enjoy having that freedom, but I must have a close eye on stress, as a self-employed business woman, that can take hold pretty easily, so having good diet and supplements is really key.  Now, my vitamins(vit B, zinc, multi, omegas, garlic, vit C) are back in my daily routine, that I take with yogurt every morning, and that feels really good!  I also have been enjoying the BlueberrieGreens, I’m used to taking greens on a regular basis, so I quite like them.  I’ve been mixing it with the Aloe-Lemon powder and have made smoothies with the Protein Powder, which I’m not used to taking and wonder if it’s what’s having an effect on my slower than usual bowel movements….

My energy levels are quite high, but they are probably a mixture of adrenaline, inspiration, and energy.  So, I’m just trying to go with the flow and give my body what it needs, sometimes it gets overlooked when I’m totally focused on designing, so it’s something I have to continue to remind myself of.  Finally back at yoga, after a neck kink, that had me down for over 2 weeks, and going for walks, trying for every day.

Looking forward to hearing about the upcoming challenges!!

Wow, its’ been a very busy this week, I am filling big orders that need to go out fast!!!

In terms of the wellness products we were given, I am being very consistent with the greens powder and Aloe-lemon powder, I have it everyday as a snack.  I actually really like it, it’s refreshing and so alkaline, great stuff!!  My diet, is completely back to normal, I’ve had the protein powder a few times, but am not yet in the habit of having it daily….

I find when I am swamped in the studio, it really takes over the importance of health and exercise, and eating the proper things, are sacrificed, although not totally ignored, I might only fit in one short walk a day, when I’d rather go to Bikram, and I grab faster foods, when I should take the time to maybe make a smoothie.  Nevertheless we are eating good breakfasts and dinners, so that I am happy about that and maintaining, a small amount of activity.  I am off to the Kootenays on Thursday to take a time out and visit friends’ it should be really great as Iv’nt been for a while and need a break form my studio.  I am not bringing my powders with me, as I eat well when I’m there anyhow, and I will be completely relaxing, I love the Kootenay pace!!  Well, that’s it for this week.

Wow how time flies, this week I returned home from a few days in the Kootenays, which I was mentioning in my last blog post, that were wonderful and relaxing indeed !  So, I got home one day before valentine’s, to my hunny, who was in a little bit of a predicament….

He was feeling pretty under the weather and feeling the effects of sitting at his computer for 16hrs a day !

Instantly, we had to get back into serious cleansing mode ASAP.  Take out the wine and fancy dinner we were gonna go to for Valentine’s and make soup, salad and brown rice for the week.:)  It is kind of a blessing in disguise, who really wants to eat a bunch of chocolate and red wine anyways…. hahah!!  I have been feeling like these nutraceuticals we are taking from Prairie Naturals are really great, but I also need to keep a really balanced life at the same time, like keeping stress at bay and doing enough physical and social activity.  Inspired by what happened to my partner, we are (as I write), composing a calender of healthier habits for the next 3 months, that outlines everything we HAVE to pay attention to, weather it is getting up from the desk atleast every hour, or getting outside, or taking our supplements everyday.  This, I feel is really important to give the body a break to rejuvenate and regenerate in an optimal environment. These habits of taking better care of ourselves, instead of pushing harder, need to be put into place now.  Of coarse I’m sure we will still experience life in the future, but perhaps we won’t neglect ourselves in the process.

Geez, time sure does just slip away sometimes.

I am really happy and excited to be on the products that we were so generously given.

I am still taking the greens and lemon-aloe powder, I love them, they are the perfect ’snack’

to tide you over before the next meal, not to mention the amazing feeling you get from the nutrient-dense greens.

The protein powder is so awesome in smoothies too!!  I had it after Bikram and it was the perfect meal replacement,especially because I go to the later classes, and would rather have that, then cook a meal with real food.

So I’m really happy with using these products they are all yummy and great!

Life is just as busy and with it’s challenges,

but I think I’ve noticed a decrease in stressful reactions to things, I’m generally level headed and calm,which I’m attributing to the fact that I’m a little more consistent with healthy lifestyle habits.

Just the same, though, there are ups and downs, and some days are just better than others, all in all though,

I feel truly blessed and grateful for everything in my life !