Healthy Body Challenge Update

A few years ago I started a healthy body challenge.  I decided to stop eating so much processed foods and to stop feeding them to my family.  No more Hamburger Helper.  No more store bought bread or tortillas.  No more chemicals in the cleaning products. We saw a big increase in our grocery bill, but we also saw an increase in our energy and our happiness. 

I haven't updated my progress in quite awhile.  Hotel life has brought with it some major changes.  I don't control what cleaning products are used.  We eat hotel food which is all processed and filled with god-knows-what.  And we all started gaining weight and feeling life crap again. 

I started new challenge on December 31: I'm cutting from my diet almost all dairy products (dairy is no longer kind to me), and as soon as we move back into the house I am implementing two meals a week as meatless (vegan or vegetarian).  I will post any successful recipes as soon as I start the new meatless endeavor.  I also started keeping a food journal so I can be more accountable to keeping a healthy diet.  So far I have been a little cranky due to cravings, but I am surviving.  As long as I can have coffee and wine, life is good.

There are a few products I would like to share in an effort to point y'all in the direction of inexpensive but body-friendly products.   I'm not a product pimp, but I do like to pass along any great finds.

This is my new favorite line of shampoo and conditioner, Acure.  Colby and I affectionately call my hair Simba because it is wild and untamed.  However, this stuff leaves my hair soft and smooth without any chemicals.  It's safe for color-treated hair, and it costs under $10 per bottle.  It's on sale right now at Whole Foods for $6.99, so I will probably stock up.  

This is a great, chemical-free body soap for anyone, especially people with sensitive skin.  It doesn't smell the best, but it is really inexpensive and safe.

Since the soap I use is unscented, and in reality actually smells sort of funky, I like to use a body spray that gets its fragrance from essential oils.  This one is my new favorite.  It is safe to use on your skin and to breath into your lungs.  No chemicals.  No artificial fragrance.

Here's to a healthy, happy 2014!