I first met Jim some years back – his wife Claudia is a close friend of my wife Sherry!
Jim is a very large man – standing 6’5 ” of taller!
He loves to cook and always was making BBQ for his employees!
Claudia was interested in what Sherry was doing for her health.
Then – Jim became interested.
He sent me this email – I had no idea he was writing it.
It is such a story of health and a journey for a individual
who one day said enough is enough!
IN HIS OWN WORDS – JIM MARTIN!
My name is Jim Martin, and I am 65 years old. I live in Reston, Virginia, I still maintain a full-time job.
Heaviest Weight: 350 pounds
Current Weight: 260 pounds
I struggled with my weight my entire adult life. It led to binge eating and weight gain. Before trying Juice Plus, I had done yo-yo diets my whole life. My weight has gone up and down 50 to 80 pounds over the years, but nothing ever stuck.
Before Juice Plus, a typical day consisted of a lack of sleeping of no more that 4 to 5 hours a night and grabbing either a breakfast burrito with an apple juice or a chicken biscuit from a drive thru. I would go to work at my incredibly stressful sales job from 7:30-4:30 and get little to no movement at work. I would always eat out for lunch and pick very unhealthy options—sometimes I would even get dessert (cookies) with lunch! After work I would come home and eat dinner around 6:30 pm and sit on the couch until it was time for bed. Before bed, I would usually have ice cream or another dessert. Sometimes I would wake up and get a “midnight snack.” I was literally eating around the clock.
The first time I heard about Juice Plus was almost a year ago. I was not into fitness at the time, but back then I thought Juice Plus would help me lose weight and promote a good immune system. However, after years of putting on weight, I started learning more about it and decided I wanted to give it a try and joined the “Shred Your Way” Facebook group.
My turning point came on January 6, 2020 with the “Shred Your Way” Sugar Shred Challenge, No sugar for 10 days. As a result of completing this challenge, I have completely removed sugar from my diet for the past 11 months. I have no sugar cravings or desire to eat sweets as I did in the past. This all happened two months prior to the COVID lockdown and I was stress eating like crazy. It was a Monday morning and I stepped on the scale that I had been avoiding for months. After I read it, I just said, “That’s enough.” Something had to change.
My goal when I started this journey was to be in better shape than I was when I was 45. Back then, I was 260 pounds and less than 20% bodyfat. From the start of this journey to get healthy, I told myself that I wanted to be in better shape in the next year than I was in the last.
I found that adding Fasting, Healthy eating and Walking to my journey
I loved it so much, I added the Fasting (Zero Fast), Food Monitoring (MyFitnessPal) and Walking (Fitbit) apps to help me stay on track. It has been a huge help in my journey. Tracking the fast, steps, and foods It helps me to see trends, and with that I can make adjustments. I love being able to look back and see how I have done. The Shred Your Way Facebook group has also been a great source of motivation.
I currently follow a 16:8 fasting schedule, walking 8 to 10 miles a day, and eating about 1500 to 1800 calories a day, while trying to keep it flexible. Most days I end up following 17:7 Fasting, 25,000 steps and 1600 calories. I change my fasting times to suit my lifestyle. If I want to go out and have a big dinner with my wife, I will just do a longer fast leading up to it, so I stay in a deficit. And some days when I am hungry, I will break my fast at 13-14 hours (minimum of 13 hours to be considered fasting). I listen to my body and hunger signals. That is what I love about intermittent fasting—it is all about flexibility.
The first few mornings I started fasting I was so hungry, but honestly by the second week my body had adapted well. That is part of the reason I have been able to do this so long (coming up on 7 months). It is not a struggle for me to follow the plan.
Aside from the weight loss, fasting gives me freedom from food, walking gives me the movement I need and Juice Plus give me a healthy immune system. I no longer feel like food is my source of comfort. I can focus my thoughts and feelings more. I also did change my overall diet. I discovered tons of extremely healthy choices. However, that is another writing exercise.
Here is what I typically eat in a day:
Breakfast: Black coffee, breakfast cereal (Ezekiel or Sola brands, no/exceptionally low sugar) blueberries, raspberries, almond milk, and chia seeds.
Lunch: Arnold whole wheat bread or a Mission brand low carb whole wheat wrap, turkey or ham, mustard, lettuce., tomato and Kettle Brand avocado and Himalaya salt potato chips.
Dinner: Taco Bowl (steak, brown rice, pinto beans, salsa, cheese,) Kevin Brand Chicken entrees with steam veggies.
Snacks: Mixed nuts or, protein shake (1G or less sugar) or apple or protein bar (2G or less sugar)
Dessert: 1oz70% Dark Chocolate
I feel completely different now that I added fasting and walking to my Juice Plus daily routine. I no longer have a need to eat wasteful and harmful foods like sugar. Before, I would always eat a huge lunch and then be worthless for hours afterwards. Now, I experience the mental clarity that comes from eating the right foods, fasting, and walking. I am tracking all my calories in MyFitnessPal because I wanted to stay in a deficit, which was key for weight loss. I aim to eat 1,800 calories each day. I walk 7 days a week. It has been great.
These three changes contributed the most to my weight loss success.
Change 1: I gave myself more than a year to reach my goal.
By taking a longer-view approach, I do not get discouraged by little missteps. I still have plenty of time to reach my goal. When you set a short timeframe to reach your goal, you can get discouraged if it does not happen “fast” enough.
Change 2: I focused on healthy eating at first. I’ve done diets before, and when you change everything in the first week, you drain yourself of willpower and end up falling off the wagon. I just focused on finding healthy food choices that minimize or eliminate SUGAR. SUGAR is the killer of any plan that includes weight loss or a good immune system.
Change 3: I do not get discourage… focus on the big picture
Life happens, and if I get down on myself for being human, that is not going to help me in the future. So instead, I give myself grace and understand this will happen. I acknowledge it and move on instead of making myself feel like a failure. I could barely walk a mile without resting, now I can complete a 10K in less that two hours. It takes one step at a time.
I hope my successful journey can help other archive the life changing experience this has been for me. I think the most rewarding part about making this change has been the mental clarity and focus that comes in the last few hours before breaking a fast. I do not feel mentally drained. But the weight loss has made the biggest difference. It is going to allow me to live an active life well into old age. If I had continued putting on weight, I would have been in extremely poor health within the next five years. But now I feel strong, and I do not feel deprived.
The new Jim Martin – at 260 lbs.
As a side note – Claudia Martin has literally folllowed in Jim’s footsteps.
We visited a resort called Fearrington where they have black belted COWS and Chickens and Goats! And a community of different houses!
We went South to Fuquay-Varina
Just outside Raleigh N.C. where
Sherry’s sister moved about two years ago.
Sherry and Debbie
We have been here once before and decided to take
a quick long weekend trip
One of the things we did was visit Fearrington Farm
a resort that has white belted Cows – Goats and Chickens.
I have no idea HOW they produce the breeds
but they are Black with a white furry belt
In fact all the Cows – Goats are really furry
as are the Chickens ( fluffy feathers)
Belted GoatFluffy neck belted chickens
The animals were all inside pens or pastures
and we got to see them up close
It was the first time I had ever heard of them!
Sherry sitting with what I call HARVEY The rabbit made from strands of Copper wireSherry had farm fresh Tomato soup and I think Goat toasted cheese She said it was very good Debbie had the sameI had the farm fresh salad squash – shrimp(cooked) with goat cheese and it also was very good
They have several places to eat
and a spa and Inn to stay at ( $450.00 / night)
There is shopping and a really neat BOOK STORE !
Just outside where we ate a quiet place to reflect and next to outside seating
We walked around the bookstore & hundreds of books
had little review notes attached to them
All the books were colorful colors
and I found myself a little over whelmed
As I was unable to just focus
there were so many!
Mr. Frog water fountainBelted goats Tom & Debbie
I found the place charming
interesting and colorful
Goat pen with belted goats
I also thought I would like to come back
In the Summer
and try out the upscale Inn
Pregnant Belted Goat you could see the baby moving and kicking
They all could not be there because they are spread out
up and down the EAST COAST!
That is what she has done as the leader of TEAM GENERATIONS!
Debby ( QMND) Julie ( QSC) Mandy ( QMND)
They came because in less than two weeks – we leave the area
To start a new journey – they did not say goodbye –
but in this NETWORK BUSINESS
They said “SO LONG UNTIL WE MEET UP AGAIN”!
Lori ( SSC_
Who lives in the Outer Banks –
somewhat close to where we are going
The beauty of TEAM GENERATIONS SMILES!
They ZOOM often – these team leaders
they lead by example – healthy living.
Linda (QSC) Debby ( QMND) Shawna ( QSC)Shawna – (QSC)
The leaders of TEAM GENERATIONS – because 15 years ago –
Sherry ( Mama Bird) said yes to the health and the Business.
Changing all these lives and their families.
Julie ( QSC) who has sold and installed over 100 Tower Gardens to schoolsJulie and Carly
These ladies have promoted healthy eating and growing
ZOOM calls are now a major part of the internet business.
Stepping up to and beyond to bring health to families
and a way to supplement the income of their families
All from home – over the internet and phone.
That is why a GOODBYE is not needed
Just a SO LONG until next time.
Mandy ( QNMD)
Leading by example –
family – friends and healthy nutrition
The HOW – product – health in bottles. 30 fruits and vegetables.Debby and her mother – forever grateful – bonded – over health and nutritionFifth teen years ago – saying “YES” to these has lead to below.The leaders in TEAM GENERATIONS
A simple YES led to this and beyond
leading and showing the way
Not saying GOODBYE
But ” UNTIL WE MEET UP AGAIN”TEAM GENERATIONS ( MAMA BIRD)UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN – A MEMORY FROM THE TEAM FOR ” MAMA BIRD “!
Sherry found a better way to get nutrition & nutrients
from fruits and vegetables with research to back it up!
Three generations
They started by naming their mother – daughters team
“TEAM GENERATIONS”
From GIGI ( grandmother )
– to Sherry ( mother) to daughters
Tammy and Debby and their children.
Four generations – all on the road to better health.
Ella and SarahBode Taylor Cassidy
The fourth generation – and when they have children – the fifth generation
All because Sherry said “YES” at NBC for your health
at the Washington DC convention center!
The TEAM GENERATIONS TEAM
It continues to grow – families seeking nutrition
better health
feeling great and less doctor visits
More energy
It has spread across the country
and now they communicate with ZOOM calls
and those that live near each other – gather in exercising
There are monthly exercise programs – group fastings
Challenges – and social group gatherings.
Mother and daughter bonding
It has become a FAMILY trip to health.
The oldest in college – practicing health
sending her care packages of healthy foods!
Trips to conferences on the East Coast and West Coast and Middle America twice a yearTeam generations continues to grow one family at a timeLeadership in numbersBefore the pandemic – social gatheringsMaking life fun with healthTeam Generations began with a mother and daughtersToday it has grown into this – leaders from across the country
What started out as a way to eat healthy
and have our kids and grand kids eating better
has turned into a group of dedicated individuals
who share their experience of health and nutrition.
The OLD WAY HAS BEEN REPLACEDTo a whole new life styleDebby Papa Sherry on the way to THE ELTON’S a celebration of recognizing individuals
