I have shed 11 pounds now in 28 days. following our Best Ever You Ten Steps to a Healthier You Plan.

I made one very small change that created a bigger ripple effect. That change was to eliminate as much sugar from my life as possible.

By doing that, I basically had to redo nearly everything I ate, because upon inspection, much of what I was eating was, in fact, sugar in various forms - bad forms, like pasta, rice, white bread, chocolate chips, chocolate ice cream, etc...

Instead of eating those foods, I decided to eliminate them entirely now (versus decreasing their portions) and change to whole fruits and veggies, chicken and more clean eating. I'm a pretty clean eater already due to food allergies, but I decided to really eliminate anything with sugar.

I also decided to add a green smoothie each morning to my food choices for breakfast. (You can see in previous blogs how my family reacted to blending up spinach!) 28 days later, however, it is so interesting how popular green smoothies are becoming in our home!! Our oldest son, Connor dared take a sip and said, "That is so strange. It tastes like banana, but is green!"

My husband has purchased a green cup for me, but still won't drink one, which caused me to go back to Sara Sullivan, our nutritionist on Best Ever You and ask about different colors of smoothies for those with an aversion to drinking green.

Voila! Red Smoothies..... Sara and I went of Fox/Good Day Maine in a Green Smoothie vs. Red Smoothie way...http://www.myfoxmaine.com/story/16959862/red-vs-green-smoothies

I'm still on the green smoothie team!!

My next small change is going to start today now that I have my eating under control. I am going to be adding 40 minutes of exercise to my daily routine. I am not going to be particular about the exercise. I am just going to choose each day to do something. It might be a Planet Fitness Treadmill workout or it might be a wog up the block (that is my walk/jog). It could be a round of Hip Hop Abs or it might be Slim in Six. Heck, I may even throw in some Jane Fonda from the 80's. (Yes, I still have that in VHS!!)

Believe in Yourself. Everyone is different. Find what motivates you and inspires you and tweek it to work for you. Daily I am asked, "What/Whose plan are you following?" I answer, "MY OWN!" Don't compare yourself to others and look within for the answers.... and don't, please don't, if you are in your 30's, 40's, 50's say "I used to be...." Think about how you are now and what works for now. (I am not on the gymnastics mats 6 - 8 hours like IUSEDTOBE.!!)

Believe in Yourself. The Power of You. Be Your Best.

Love,
Elizabeth

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth is the Founder and CEO of The Best Ever You Network and has finally decided to do something about those nagging 20 pounds.

ps- Elizabeth is the queen of typos. If you find one, just let her know. Our editor, "Liz" is busy trying to show people in the world that it is ok to drink green spinach for breakfast.