Losing weight has opened my eyes and changed my reality. Flying is so much better now than before, when I was smashed into the airplane set.

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I’d like to share with you my most recent flight down to Cabo… and the changes I experienced for the first time.

As a former size 24, fitting in the airplane seat was always uncomfortable and once down right painful. Now at a size 10, life is a lot easier, and airplane seats are a lot more roomier than before.

I remember about ten years ago, I had asked for a seat belt extender. Not only was I embarrassed to ask for one, but I didn’t fit into the seat. My body was in pain. Then to my surprise and horror… they didn’t have one.  I guess that’s something I needed to know to bring. 

 Well this trip was different. I didn’t bring a seat extender… I didn’t need one!

I could cross my legs with ease.  The tray table actually came all the way down to where it’s supposed to be, instead of stopping at my gut! I could even turn around in the bathroom and put on lipstick! Life is so different now.

Life is Good – Thin!

 On my way to Cabo – Joyce Blonskij, formerly a size 24, currently a size 8/10 and feeling good!

My next blog is on food! Wait till you see what I ordered up on the sidewalk in Cabo…

Want to lose weight and get healthy? I am here to help.

Joyce Blonskij, Independent Certified Optavia Coach 

joyce@healthcoachjb.com

Average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan® is 12 pounds. Clients are in weight loss, on average, for 12 weeks.

 

Ready for Take Off… fasten your seat belt, if you can! I felt helpless.

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As a former fatty flying was the ultimate test on just how much I had gained from year to year…

Those seats kept getting smaller and smaller… At least that was my reality. Heaven forbid that I could actually be getting bigger and bigger….

I remember a flight my cousin Donna Conway and I took to Aruba. I could not fit in the seat.

The steel arms were welded down and my hips squeezed so tightly — I hurt.

The worst was yet to come…

The seat belt was a good 6 inches too short!

The seat belt had to have been designed for tiny little people. Maybe it was a kids only flight I’d gotten on by mistake. Now that I think back, that had to be why I didn’t fit in the seat.  Even my cousin was feeling the pinch, but not as bad as me.

I thought that this could never happen to me.

I asked the flight attendant for a seat belt extender

They didn’t have one!

I flew all the way to Aruba in physical pain and mental agony.

I was beyond embarrassed… I was OBESE!

Today was a much different experience and one I just have to share with you. It blew me away when I saw just what a 103 pounds looks like from an air plane seat.

If you are where I was just a few years ago, there is a light at the end of the runway and it’s not another air plane. It’s a way to get your weight off quickly and safely. I was successful doing Weight Watchers for my first year, and after hitting a plateau went on Medifast after getting the inside scoop from my good friends Dudley and Sherry. Now I am 10 pounds from my optimal health and traveling is taking on a whole new feel!

More videos to come, so please come back and let me share more with you!

On our way to Cabo!

Want to lose weight and get healthy? I am here to help.

Joyce Blonskij, Independent Certified Optavia Coach 

joyce@healthcoachjb.com

Average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan® is 12 pounds. Clients are in weight loss, on average, for 12 weeks.

Take Shape For Life (TSFL) company name was changed to Optavia

Stuffed Bell Peppers

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I love to cook and eat. My program allows me to enjoy a lean protein and vegetable meal every day.

Stuffed Bell Peppers is a great way to eat healthy.  If you have a big family this is a very affordable recipe and your family will love it!

Want to lose weight and get healthy? I am here to help.

Joyce Blonskij, Independent Certified Optavia Coach 

joyce@healthcoachjb.com

See how it goes together…

Enjoy the holidays and lose weight.

I love being a Coach. I am helping my family and friends get healthy. We are all losing weight and improving our health.

The Crab Bisque was “heavenly” – Who knew, losing weight was so delicious?

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At our cooking class Cindi cooked up an easy and delicious Crab Bisque from the Medifast Cream of Tomato Soup.

You can use crab, lobster, imitation crab or a combination of both. Man-O-Man this was so good.

Watch Cindi whip this up.

Want to lose weight and get healthy? I am here to help.

Joyce Blonskij, Independent Certified Optavia Coach 

joyce@healthcoachjb.com

Average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan® is 12 pounds. Clients are in weight loss, on average, for 12 weeks.

 

 

I love being able to cross my legs and bend over and tie my shoes. It’s the little things in life that you miss the most when your overweight.

I am now the dominant force in my life. I’m in control not the food and it’s all GOOD.

If you fall off the diet wagon…it’s ok because you can take it off easily and quickly once you get back on program.

You have the power to make your life great!

I love being a coach. Sharing my journey and coaching others. Best of all helping my family and friends lose weight and get healthy! That’s what it all about.

Want to lose weight and get healthy? I am here to help.

Joyce Blonskij, Independent Certified Optavia Coach 

joyce@healthcoachjb.com

Average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan® is 12 pounds. Clients are in weight loss, on average, for 12 weeks.

Take Shape For Life (TSFL) company name was changed to Optavia

It’s Chef Cindi, Cooking Up Mushroom Omelet & Stuffed Bell Peppers

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WARNING… Don’t watch this video if you’re hungry!

You can smell the mushrooms on the stove and the turkey meat simmering… This was so yummy.  I made the  mushroom omelet this morning for my breakfast. It turned out great!

The Stuffed Bell Peppers were a hit. Cindi added one can of tomato sauce and fresh herbs from my garden to the turkey meat. We steamed the peppers for 5 minutes in the microwave. Very easy to make, cooked in no time, and was delicious.

See for yourself…

Want to lose weight and get healthy? I am here to help.

Joyce Blonskij, Independent Certified Optavia Coach 

joyce@healthcoachjb.com

TIP: Winter time can make it harder to get in all the water we need because it’s cold out. We still need to drink 8 to 10 glasses a day. Try taking a water infuser like a 5 calorie pink lemonade and making it with hot water. It will warm you up and help get your water in.

Come back tomorrow for cookies!

Sunday Cooking with Chief Cindi: Mushroom Omelet, Crab Bisque… to the Biscotti. Watch the step by step videos.

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We took eating and dieting to a new level today! Using Medifast Eggs, Cream of Tomato Soup, and Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal….Cindi cooked up a wonderful afternoon.

Putting variety into your day-to-day menu can help you stay on program and lose weight. We got lots of great new ideas, and with the holidays here …this was perfect timing.

Cindi prepared and demonstrated a wide variety of delicious meal ideas.  She started by baking cooking and made the house smell wonderful.  Did you know that from 1 package of Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal you get 10 cookies! We decided cookies and coffee makes a great mid morning or evening meal replacement.  This is a must make!

Menu Of The Day

by Chief Cindi

Stuffed Bell Peppers with Turkey

Tilapia & Broccoli

Mushroom Omelet

Asparagus Omelet

Zucchini Omelet

Crab Bisque

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies

Biscotti

If you missed this event… you can watch the videos and get cooking tips.

Want to lose weight and get healthy? I am here to help.

Joyce Blonskij, Independent Certified Optavia Coach 

joyce@healthcoachjb.com

Average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan® is 12 pounds. Clients are in weight loss, on average, for 12 weeks.

Take Shape For Life (TSFL) company name was changed to Optavia

 

 

I’ll be posting clips all this week… 

Be sure to subscribe to an email alert and don’t miss the fun.

We’re getting healthy during the Holidays!

 

Buliding Character…Do what you love, and love what you do.

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Professional Bodybuilding

Persevered – A quality that would become his hallmark.

Years of working out and eating healthy Greg went from 150 pounds to 230 pounds today, and is a professional bodybuilder.

Did it happen over night? NO

It took years…. 20 To Be Exact!

Did it take dedication, focus and perseverance? YES

So here I am like so many others getting healthy, losing weight, and getting strong and fit.

Will it happen over night? Nope – It just doesn’t work that way.

Will it take focus, a commitment, and a life style change?

Yes it will.

In life it’s the journey that’s the most fun… I believe that’s true. 

When we make the goal… it’s time to start a new journey and reach higher than we thought possible.

Anything is possible… if you do what you love, and love what you do!

 Take a step out of your comfort zone.

Stretch your sights and see what life has in store for you!

You just might like what you see.

Want to lose weight and get healthy? I am here to help.

Joyce Blonskij, Independent Certified Optavia Coach 

joyce@healthcoachjb.com

Average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan® is 12 pounds. Clients are in weight loss, on average, for 12 weeks.

Greg Atoyan is a professional bodybuilder and is my trainer.

Some like it HOT! 105 degrees to be exact. HOT YOGA – Photos of my first time. I have to say… it’s a lot like golf. “It looks easy”

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I stepped out of my comfort zone…

I set out this morning for my very first HOT YOGA class.

Getting healthy and living an active lifestyle is very appealing to me. I knew this was a step in my journey. And something that I must do.

What made me most anxious was that it was going to last for

90 minutes!

Man-O-Man that seemed like a long time to do yoga!

As a newbee I wondered if I’d last that long… but I was willing and ready.

Heather was the class instructor.  She put me at ease right away. She said for the 2 first-timers, our goal is just to stay in the room for the entire 90 minutes.   Well heck, I can hang out for 90 minutes. No problem. I got it. I was feeling confident now.

It started out with everyone getting a floor space. Putting down a long skinny mat with a towel over it, facing the long wall of mirrors. Thinking back – I’m surprised we didn’t fog up the mirrors.  That would have been funny.

Hot Yoga...here I go.

I knew I was going to have to listen and focus if I was going to get into the pose. A couple were very easy, and a couple were pretty advanced. I realized that if I was going to eventually do some of the poses …I’d have to strengthen my core.  Something I definitely need to work on.

Hot Yoga Pose

It’s a lot like Golf. It looks Easy.

Balance and focus were needed when we got to the one leg pose.  My right leg – could not stand still. My left leg, well have a look!

Hot Yoga Joyce on one foot.

Balance… Pretty Good for a first timer!

What struck me was the care Heather showed in this class towards the students and her knowledge to guide us verbally through multiple sequences of poses and rest.

I completed the entire 90 minute class!

Heather My First Hot Yoga Instructor 11-15-09 Folsom CA

My 1st Hot Yoga Instructor, Heather

I feel a great sense of accomplishment.

…and enjoyed the experience!

 I was willing to take a risk today and try something new. I am so happy I did.  Getting healthy and living a full life means getting out of our comfort zone.

After My 1st Hot Yoga Class with Karen

Just completed my 1st Hot Yoga Class, with Karen.

Want to lose weight and get healthy? I am here to help.

Joyce Blonskij, Independent Certified Optavia Coach 

joyce@healthcoachjb.com

Average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan® is 12 pounds. Clients are in weight loss, on average, for 12 weeks.

A Gift of Science & Life. Getting off Insulin Shots…Holly’s story, and she’s sticking to it!

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In 25 days, Holly  lost 19.2 Pounds. But that’s NOT the most exciting news I want to share with you today! Holly had been taking insulin shots daily.  Every morning and again before bed, for the past 19 Years!   PLUS — Oral Meds 3-times-a-day… and still not controlling her diabetes. Her sugars “were” in the mid to high 200’s!

In less than a month, Holly is Off  INSULIN – No shots!

She has eliminated one of her afternoon meds.

Holly has taken back her health in less than a months time!

If you are reading this and thinking… ok that’s one person, let me knock you for a loop.  Joe, a type 1 diabetic, has had the same great results on this health plan!

Holly and Joe both feel better, from the inside out!

“A Gift of Science & A Gift of Life”

If you’d like to get more information on this program…

Want to lose weight and get healthy? I am here to help.

Joyce Blonskij, Independent Certified Optavia Coach 

joyce@healthcoachjb.com

Average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan® is 12 pounds. Clients are in weight loss, on average, for 12 weeks. Losing weight helps with many health issues.

Take Shape For Life (TSFL) company name was changed to Optavia

 

Move More…and Eat More Often! I like this a lot better than the old saying Move More/Eat Less!

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Move more… and eat less!  We’ve all heard this time and again. Well it’s sort of true. You do need to watch what you eat and reduce calories to lose weight. But the fact of the matter is, just cutting back on calories may hurt you by reducing your muscle mass, which is just the opposite of losing FAT! The BETTER News is Move More and Eat More Often… Eating 6 or 7 small portion controlled healthy meals all through the day,  is a great way to get your body revved up while you’re: burning fat not muscle. You’ll be in a better mood which your co-workers and family will appreciate, and this will help to control your blood sugars!  Best of all, if you do it right – YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT & GET HEALTHY!

Calories In v.s Energy Out

You’ve got to get moving in your day.

STOP fighting it.  Just make a decision to START. AND DO IT!

I’m not talking about running 30 miles your first day or this time next year.  I am suggesting a: 15 to 20 walk every day. Walk the neighborhood or a mall. Taking the stairs. Parking at the end of the lot instead of next to the door. Take the kids or the dog to the park and play. (If you have a crazy cat like me… take the dog… and the cat will follow! 🙂 Stretching every day during TV commercials! That means getting out of the chair and touching your toes a couple of times an hour.

Bottom line is:  MOVE IT!

Start out easy… and work up to 30 minutes.

All you need is a pair of tennis shoes and a jacket.

Oh, don’t forget the dog.  He/she will thank you later!

Walk N Hike on Old Oak Ave Folsom with my boy

A 30 minute walk is a good way to get moving.

Don’t wait for January to roll around.

Start now!

Want to lose weight and get healthy? I am here to help. Joyce Blonskij, Independent Certified Optavia Coach  joyce@healthcoachjb.com Average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 5 & 1 Plan® is 12 pounds. Clients are in weight loss, on average, for 12 weeks. Take Shape For Life (TSFL) company name was changed to Optavia