Health & Wellness Restored (Becky O'Brien with Optimal Wellness)

No more Pain! No more Acid Reflux!

2011-12-08T22:56:00.000-08:00

Pain Relief! (A story from a satisfied client)

My daughter started her Shaklee business and, in support of her, I agreed to try some the products. I began with Vitalizer and Vivix. I was already taking an over-the-counter multi-vitamin so, when I started taking the Shaklee, I did not expect to notice any difference.

The first day, yes, I said the first day, I noticed that some pain I was having in my legs was not there. My thought was that it was a coincidence; it couldn't be the supplements. At the end of the first week of taking them, I noticed that the brown spots on my hands were lighter. Could it be? It had gotten to where I hated to look at my hands. Hands can really show your age. My nails were always thin and would break easily.

Now, after two months of taking the Vitalizer and Vivix, I find myself staring at my hands all the time! The age spots are almost completely gone and my nails are so stron and long! I file my nails often because they get too long for the work I do. How cool is that!

Oh, and the leg pain, for the most part, is gone! Once in a great while, I will feel a little where before it was constant pain. I expect it to go away forever. It is just a matter of time.

Last but not least, I was taking reflux meds daily. Since starting the supplements, in the last 2 months, I have taken maybe 3 or 4 pills, not because I felt sick, but out of "fear" that I would, because of past history. I will get over the fear because I truly believe that the probiotic capsule in the Vitalizer is the answer.

Thank you Shaklee for making such wonderful products.
Thank you, My Precious Daughter, for sharing Shaklee with me.

Teri
Fort Worth, Texas
October 30, 2011

Business Reception at the National Harbor! - Prince William Chamber of Commerce

2011-07-25T21:42:00.000-07:00

Business Reception at the National Harbor! - Prince William Chamber of Commerce

Ya can't beat better health "Day and Night"!

2011-07-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Diane for her wonderful testimony.
These are the stories that "make my day"! Is your story here?

"It's really very simple. I sleep better when I take Shaklee's Vitamin D! My work requires me to be inside most of the day and I frequently work late and don't get home until after dark. This means that I don't get enough sunshine and the natural Vitamin D from sunlight. Since I've started taking the Shaklee Vitamin D, I sleep much sounder at night and have more energy to get things done. I also appreciate Shaklee's high standards and excellent quality. It's a product you can trust." Diane

Shaklee Videos: Shaklee Sports Nutritionsup™/sup

2011-07-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

Shaklee Videos: Shaklee Sports Nutritionsup™/sup

Very cool! Two minutes of inspiration!!

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D? | Shaklee

2011-07-07T20:31:00.000-07:00

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin D? Shaklee

Meanwhile . . . Back to My Story

2011-06-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

Well . . . I got as far as posting Step Two of the Seven Keys to Wellness. Yes, I will get back to those steps.

But I want to take a moment to pause and write about what is near and dear to my heart and what truly "makes my day" and that's STORIES!!

On any given day, I have the awesome privilege of hearing my own clients' stories of HEALTH AND WELLNESS RESTORED! That's what I'm all about - restoring Health and Wellness for others and building a team of others who do the same. (I discovered that I can't "change the world" by myself!)

It all began with my own story that started 16 years ago.
I "had it all" it seems! Migraine headaches, Chest Pains, Heart Palpitations, Joint Pain, Muscle Cramps, Depression, Fatigue, PMS, Dizziness, Foggy Thinking. Other than that, I was "just fine"! Ha! I had learned to "live" with all this. NOT GOOD.

My own search for Optimal Wellness led me to a great company dedicated to Creating Healthier Lives for over 50 years. (Almost as "old" as me. LOL)

They say "a picture says 1000 words". How about a video?
Here's my story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YC3XmPU2YCY

Watch for more posts of lives changed: Health and Wellness Restored. What is YOUR story?

Key #2: Supplement Your Diet With Nutritionals

2011-03-05T21:34:00.000-08:00

This is where my particular expertise comes in. I hold a HUGE KEY in my hand with regards to helping hundreds of people choose the right supplements.

For 16 years, I have been recommending supplements made by the Shaklee Corporation. It all began with my own health story you can read about in my profile. I now own my own business called Optimal Wellness and I offer a complementary wellness consult to help people choose the right supplements.

Shaklee Wellness products meet all seven of the criteria listed below:
1. Take a multi-vitamin/multi-mineral that meets certain criteria for safety and effectiveness. (Shaklee Vita-Lea and Shaklee Vitalizer)

2. Take an Omega-3 supplement (helps to prevent bone deterioration in adults, improves cardiovascular and immune system function, reduces inflammation, improves brain health, contributes to long life) (Shaklee OmegaGuard)

3. Take a probiotic: Living direct-fed microbials that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract. Crowds out harmful bacteria, viruses and yeasts. (Shaklee Optiflora system)

4. Take digestive enzymes to aid the digestive process, breaking down protein, fats and carbohydrates into easily absorbed components. (EZ-Gest)

5. Take fiber supplements. It's important to keep the intestinal tract cleansed. As the gut goes, so goes the body - the immune system, heart, lungs, blood supply, brain and nervous system. Health begins in the gut. (Shaklee Fiber Plan)

6. Take antioxidants. More than 90 percent of the U.S. population fails to eat the recommended 3-5 servings of vegetables each day. (Shaklee Carotomax and Flavomax)

7. Take a protein supplement. Protein has a fat-burning effect on the body, reduces hunger, and helps to preserve muscles as those pounds drop off. Proteins are the "Legos" - the essential building blocks - of the body. All proteins are combinations of twenty-two amino acids, which build body organs, muscles and nerves. Proteins are required for the structure, function, and regulation of the body's cells, tissues and organs; and each protein has unique functions. Examples are hormones, enzymes and antibodies. Eight of the essential amino acids cannot be produced by the body; they need to come from the diet. Animal protein and soybeans are the only complete protein sources providing them. (Shaklee Cinch and Shaklee Energizing Soy Protein Drink Mix)

NOW the Good Stuff!

2011-02-21T20:51:00.000-08:00

Okay, so now that we know some of what NOT to eat, let's talk about what TO eat. I promise we will get to Key #2 soon (it's actually one of my favorites). But this entry is too important to gloss over.

But, before I go any further, check out http://www.meetup.com/Naturally-Healthy-Women/ for information about a great group of women, committed to reaching their goals of Optimal Wellness.
On Tues., March 15, Alena Sugar, a nutritionist, will share from the perspective and philosophy from the Weston A. Price Foundation.
We will gather at the Eggspecations in Chantilly, VA at 7:00 PM.

"The Top Healing Foods" (Actually there are 12, but we will start with the first 6 here.)

You are what you eat:

1. Fish and Fish Oil: Eat cold-water fish that have eaten marine life, not feedlot fish from farms eating salmon chow.

2. Cultured Dairy Products from Goats, Cows and Sheep: The dairy products should be from grass-fed cows and non-homogenized. Goat's milk is less allergenic; it contains higher amounts of medium-chained fatty acids, and contains 7 percent less lactose than cow's milk. 2 percent or skim milk is not recommended as removing the fat makes the milk less nutritious and less digestible and can cause allergies.

3. Olive Oil: High in monounsaturaded fatty acids and antioxidants, protects us from heart disease by controlling LDL cholesterol while raising HDL cholesterol levels. Contains flavonoids and polyphenols - antioxidants which help prevent cell damage from ocygen-containing chemicals called free radicals. Use high-qualify extra-virgin olive oil in cooking.

4. Small Fruits such as Figs, Grapes and Berries: Adds potassium to diet, plus fiver and antioxidants.

5. Soups and Salads: Especially beneficial to people with intestinal disease because they are high in nutrients that the gastrointestinal tract can easily absorb.

6. Healthy Saturated Fats: Use extra-virgin coconut oil for cooking or baking in a pan. Helps to balance the thyroid and improve metabolic function. Whole milk butter made from cattle grazing is loaded with vitamins A, D, and E.

# 7 - 12 Top Healing Foods covered in next entry - Stay Tuned!!

Happy, Healthy Eating!

What NOT To Eat!

2011-02-05T22:59:00.000-08:00

Before I introduce Key #2 for Healthier Living to you, I need to elaborate further about Key #1: Eat to Live.

So often in life, learning what NOT to do is equally as important as what to do.
Hence, The Dirty Dozen, listed below.

By making the decision today to avoid these "foods", you will be well on your way to Better Health & Wellness.

1. Pork products
2. Shellfish and fish without fins and scales (catfish, shark, eel)
3. Hydrogenated oils (margarine, shortening, etc.)
4. Artificial sweeteners (aspartame, saccharine, sucralose)
5. White flour
6. White sugar
7. Soft drinks
8. Pasteurized, homogenized milk
9. High fructose corn syrup
10. Imitation meat products (like hydrolyzed soy burgers)
11. Artificial flavors and colors
12. Excessive alcohol

Pigs have a simple stomach arrangement; whatever a pig eats goes down the hatch, straight into the stomach and out the back door in four hours max. They eat anything, including carcasses and body parts of other pigs.

Animals that chew the cud (cows, goats, sheep, oxen, deer, buffalo and other wild game) have three or four stomachs, to wash and rinse their vegetarian diet. It takes 24 hours for the food they eat to digest.

Lobsters, crabs, shrimp and catfish are bottom-feeders. They sustain themselves on fish droppings. Whatever they consume goes straight into their system, which explains why scientists measure pollution in the water by checking the flesh of crabs, clams and lobsters for their toxin levels. Eating them fouls the body and may lead to increases in heart disease and cancer by introducing toxins into the bloodstream.

So, there you have it! That's one food closet you want to lock and then throw away the key!

Stay tuned for next time: The Top Healing Foods.

(Thank you to The Great Physician's Rx for Health and Wellness.)

Let's Start With Food

2011-01-09T17:15:00.000-08:00

With "Key #1" in hand, we open up the first door to Health & Wellness:

Eat to Live

We all have to eat. Most people love to eat.

The question is, "Are you eating to live, or are you living to eat?"

Which begs another question, "Is it possible that what you are eating could be killing you?"

Key #1: Eat to Live

Eat food that was created to be food!
Eat food in a form that is healthy for the body, close to the natural source, not man-made. Our bodies are then nourished and able to perform at optimal levels. The more convenient "foods" are less healthy and farther away from God's design for living.
Eat foods that are produced sustainably (organically grown or raised) - a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers.
Eat the right combination of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
Eat 25-30 grams of fiber daily.
Eat the Top Healing Foods - foods that promote life. (Watch future blog for list.)
Avoid the "Dirty Dozen" - foods that take away life. (Watch future blog for list.)
Chew each mouthful of food 25 to 50 times.
Drink 6 to 8 glasses of pure water daily. Drink 8 ounces whenever you feel hungry.
Drink 1 to 3 cups of hot tea blends each day to provide antioxidant protection and maintain a healthy weight. (Ask me about the special tea I drink every day - I'm addicted!)
Consume at least one snack per day (protein bar or smoothie). I can recommend one that is not highly processed, and not made from genetically modified plants, and has no artificial flavors, additives or sweeteners added.
Partially fast one day per week.

(Thank you to The Great Physcian's Rx for Health and Wellness).

Turn a New Key

2011-01-02T07:34:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

I love keys. Keys open things. Things that could lead to endless possibilities. Who can resist turning a key into a lock of an unknown treasure? Whether it be a trunk, or a jewelry case, or a diary, or a huge iron gate, our curiousity almost always gets the best of us, and we say, "I wonder what is in here. If I just turn this key, Iwill find out!"

And therein lies the "key" - wonder! Wonder is what leads us to take chances, if you will, risks we take, with the hopeful possibility that we will discover something wonderful when we simply turn the key.

2011. Could it possibly be a year of wonders for you? With the right keys to open the right treasures, could you discover something new and exciting for yourself?

How about your health? Is your health exciting to you? Interesting question, huh? I just jumped from intrique and adventure to a topic as "boring" as your health!

Hmmmm . . . . let's pause and think here. Pose another question. "If you don't have your health, what DO you have?" Could there possibly be keys to be used first to open the doors of Health and Wellness to you? Do those doors need to open up to you first, before you can enter into other doors of wonder and possibility? A more purposeful life?

Such is my own personal story. (You can read about in previous posts here. I also have a video posted.)

What I care about right now is YOU.

For the next seven weeks, I will be posting a Key for YOU. Seven Keys that could make all the difference in a new life for you. I pray it will. Enjoy!

Seven Keys for Health & Wellness

Reach your full potential!

What is Health? The presence of Vibrancy (not just the absence of disease)

GOALS

Body: Overcoming health issues, sleeping & resting better, increasing your overall level of health, regaining lost energy, losing weight (if needed).
Mind: Rethinking your ideas of health & wellness, reducing stress & worry, creating patterns of health for a lifetime.
Spirit: Finding God's purpose for your life, taking spiritual responsibility for your physical health.

Shaklee Health Network

2010-10-19T12:12:00.000-07:00

Shaklee Health Network

2010-09-15T18:21:00.000-07:00

ELEVEN CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING A VITAMIN SUPPLEMENT . . .

Are there no artificial colorants, sweeteners, preservatives or other unhealthy ingredients in the supplement?
Is low or no heat used to process the vitamin, preserving enzyme life?
Is the vitamin food-sourced?
Where do the raw materials come from? Are all raw materials pure and controlled - are they tested for pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and heavy metals?
Is the manufacturer committed to scientific research - not just marketing research?
Is that research published in scientific medical journals, not just advertising journals?
Does the vitamin disintegrate quickly enough to be bioavailable for your cells? Does the manufacturer run clinical trials on their OWN product to guarantee it's efficacy for the consumer?
Has the product been clinically tested by an outside and reputable source? Has there been research published by peer reviewed journals on this product?
Is a 100% money back guarantee offered?
Do pro-athletes & practitioners use the vitamins without payments for endorsement?
Do the representatives of the company know anything about wellness issues, offer you free consultations & provide you with personal care toward meeting the goals you have for yourself?

When choosing what goes into your body, and if optimal wellness is your goal, doesn't it make sense to choose the company that sets the standard in the industry? For over 50 years, Shaklee has been a company with a conscience and is dedicated to its heritage of responsibility.

CONTACT ME FOR YOUR FREE CONSULT:

optimal-wellness@comcast.net

My Business Story & Vision

2010-08-30T20:41:00.000-07:00

A picture (or video) speaks 1000 words. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc3XmPU2YCY

Shaklee Independent Distributor

2010-08-17T17:39:00.000-07:00

Shaklee Independent Distributor

2010-07-30T06:23:00.000-07:00

Five Reasons To Attend Your Annual Conference

"Thirteen conferences?! One every year?! Why do you keep going back?

Good question. Deserves a good answer.

When I first joined Shaklee 15 years ago, I had no idea what a Global Conference was. Wasn't it "just another meeting"? Why was it so important to attend? Couldn't I just see all the news "online"?

First of all, when I began my Shaklee business, computers weren't even being used, but that's beside the points. It's a lot easier now!

But now, here we are 15 years later, we DO have computers and all of the conveniences of online ordering, product education, business training via conference calls, webinars. Why make the effort to fly clear across country to California this year and spend a week at yet ANOTHER Global Conference?!

5 Reasons Why I Keep Going Back:

1. GROW! I always experience greater business growth after attending.

(Distributors are 10 times more likely to advance when attending.)

2. DEVELOP! I learn from other experienced leaders and receive hands-on

training from the best trainers in Shaklee.

3. LEARN! I hear first-hand all of the latest product and business news.

4. CELEBRATE! That's the best part. WE celebrate each others' achievements.

I get to gather my team of distributors around me that come from various

states across the country for loads of fun!

5. RELAX! I get to enjoy the surroundings of the great locations that Shaklee

picks for each Global Conference.

This year, my husband and I head to beautiful Orange Co., California, home to Disneyland and beautiful beaches! Vaca here we come!

No, my annual conference is NOT just another meeting!

Tell me one think you like about the annual conference you attend for your job/industry.

Health and Wellness Event - Prince William County-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce

2010-07-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

Health and Wellness Event - Prince William County-Greater Manassas Chamber of Commerce

It Has This Domino Effect!

2010-07-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

It's my pleasure to disclose how Shaklee products have affected my health and home life. I have been using Shaklee products for several years. I have felt so much more energy throughout the day, and feeling better for me means I take better care of myself. I have been able to stop taking blood pressure medication I took for more than ten years. I feel Shaklee products have benefited me so much that I actually don't have to take any prescription medication at all! Early on my lab work indicated that my cholesterol was heading in the wrong direction and I was pre-diabetic. My lab work a year ago showed improvement and I'm looking forward to even better results later this summer! Shaklee has this domino effect on me; my skin and nails have improved and my hair is less dry and brittle. I have used the safe Enfuselle skin care products and I believe that they have helped maintain my healthy skin and keep the natural again at bay. I also enjoy using the cleaning products; they really work and I like that they are good for our environment too. It is my hope that others will also enjoy the great Shaklee benefits that I have experienced!
Thanks for letting me share and warmest regards to all!
Terrie

It's Hard to Know Who to Trust . . .

2010-07-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

It's really hard to know who to trust in the food industry.

Everyone claims that their product is backed by solid science. But most companies rely on "borrowed science" or "marketing science" to back their product.

What do I mean by "borrowed science"? Simply put they are citing references that show that an ingredient in their product has a desired effect. They aren't actually doing studies with their product.

Why is that important?

In some cases the reports are simply wrong. There have been several times that Shaklee's Scientific Advisory Board have recommended that Shaklee do their own studies before marketing the product.

Shaklee did. The product didn't work, and they never marketed it. Examples include chromium picolinate and policosanol.

In each case studies showing that those ingredients didn't work were eventually published. In the meantime many other companies were making lots of money marketing products that didn't work.

Shaklee won't do that. They don't rely on borrowed science. They only market products that have been proven to be both safe and effective. That's part of the Shaklee Difference.

So what do I mean by "marketing science'?

By that I mean that when most companies actually do a clinical study with their products, they design the study solely with marketing in mind. They don't really care about the science. They just want to be able to make a marketing claim.

Again this is where Shaklee stands head and shoulders above their competitors. They often design their studies in such a way that they actually advance scientific knowledge.

The vitamin D study that Shaklee presented at the annual National Lipid Association meeting in Miami is a perfect example.

Several previous studies had suggested that vitamin D lowered the risk of heart disease, but nobody knew quite why.

Shaklee's scientists hypothesized that vitamin D might have a beneficial effect on HDL levels (which reduces the risk of heart disease) and metabolic syndrome (which increases the risk of heart disease). Shaklee worked with Dr. Kevin Maki of Provident Clinical Research in Glen Ellyn IL to test that hypothesis.

Shaklee's Landmark study had already shown that people taking Shaklee supplements on a regular basis generally had adequate levels of vitamin D in the blood.

Shaklee took blood samples from attendees at their New Orleans conference so that they study would have a large number of subjects with adequate vitamin D levels.

Dr. Maki recruited a number of non-Shaklee supplement users from local clinics so that the study would also contain a significant number of subjects with low levels of vitamin D in their blood.

The results were striking! HDL levels increased as blood levels of vitamin D increased and markers of metabolic syndrome decreased as blood levels of vitamin D increased.

This study cannot be used for marketing purposes because a claim that Shaklee supplements increased HDL levels would be a health claim. However, this study did advance the science around vitamin D and heart disease risk.

We now have a better understanding of how vitamin D reduces heart disease risk. This is what I call "real science" as opposed to "marketing science", and it is also part of the Shaklee Difference.

Dr. Maki said: "Results from population studies suggest that a low serum vitamin D concentration is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality, but this is the first study to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D status and cardiovascular risk factors in a group that includes a large number of vitamin D supplement users."

Dr. Stephen Chaney, PhD

Subscribe to my RSS Feed

2010-07-05T12:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Jamie Gorma with Sigma College www.SigmaBizLearning.com , I now have an RSS Feed! Visit his blog at http://www.SigmaBizBlog.com Jamie is offering a Social Media workshop - check it out!

Stay tuned for more Optimal Wellness news!
Remember: Your Health is Your Biggest Asset. If you ignore it, it WILL go away!

Gluten Intolerance Gone! No more itchy skin blisters

2010-05-18T08:29:00.000-07:00

Becky,
I was diagnosed with Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH) in 1976. DH is an intolerance to gluten (wheat, rye, barley and oats) and is a type of Celiac Disease. It manifests itself with blister type sores on the knees, elbows, etc. These sores itch terribly. Fortunately (or so I thought), I was put on a drug, Sulfapyridine, which allowed me to have gluten and held the DH at bay for the most part. However, Sulfapyridine has some serious side effects; in particular it affects the liver.

In 2005, I decided to see if Nutriferon would help with my DH. I weaned myself off of the drug while I began taking the Nutriferon on a daily basis. Within a few months, I was totally off the drug and only using Nutriferon for my DH. Nutriferon not only worked better than the Sulfapyridine, but has no side effects. Almost five years later, I continue to control the DH with Nutriferon. This product is awesome! Mary

Added note from Becky: Nutriferon gives the body what it needs to boost it's own natural production of interferon, your body's first line of defense for the immune system. It was tested at the Center for Immune Research with phenomenal results in helping allergies, hepatitis C, and hormonal imbalanced (PMS, menopause). Your immune system affects everthing!

Cholesterol & Triglycerides Improved!

2010-05-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

Hi Becky,
Hope all is well with you.
I'm very happy with the Shaklee products I'm taking. Since getting off the Maxide, my cholesterol and triglycerides have improved significantly, along with some other kidney function tests. I'm thankful to be on the Alfalfa and away from the Maxide.
My pulse rate has gone down to the mid 50's (from 60's). Could we attribute that to the CoQHeart?
Take care and give my best to your family! It's always a pleasure to spend time with you.
Barbara

Becky O'Brien

2010-04-29T22:17:00.000-07:00

Shaklee Videos: A conversation with Roger Barnett

2010-03-18T21:45:00.000-07:00

Shaklee Videos: A conversation with Roger Barnett

15 years ago, my physical health changed dramatically. Soon after that, so did my financial health.
I invite you to watch this video that says it all.
Enjoy & Be Well!

Cheryl's Story

2010-02-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

By the way, I have another testimony for you and your clients. The cholesterol supplements along with the soy supplement are great. My HDL is off the charts, it is so good. I probably have the best cholesterol of anyone I know. My triglicerides count is 47. And my LDL in much, much better. Cheryl

Heather's Story

2010-02-10T08:48:00.000-08:00

Ohhhhhhhh Becky, I can't wait to tell you. Two separate series of tests of my liver, thyroid, protein and calcium levels prior to my supplement intake you suggested came out abnormal. After following your advice re detoxing and target supplements EVERY test came out normal! AND I don't have to see the doctor until next year's annual physical! This is absolutely answered prayer and your program! Thank you, with all my heart!

Thank you again for your sincere caring, thoughtfulness, time and help.
Grateful always,
Heather

2010-02-10T07:48:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my new blog - Health & Wellness Restored!
So, why have I started this blog?
Because I am compelled to do so, yes compelled!
I owe it to you.
You should know these stories.
Why would I hold them back from you?
You will, more than likely, be able to identify with at least one of these stories.
What are the stories about?
I will tell you.

For 15 years, I have helped people feel better and look better.
And I've also helped others help others.

But don't take my word for it.
Read the stories, voluntarily sent to me.
Stories of lives changed.
Stories from the heart.

Your story could be here someday.
Contact me at: http://optimal--wellness.myshaklee.com
#1 Natural Nutrition Company in the nation!

Be Well in All Ways ~ Becky