For coming up a year now I had seen
frequent posts from an old classmate on Facebook - Ashley, she was posting about how amazing
she was feeling, buzzing off of life and it would appear it was all from a new
business venture. I had no idea what this venture was but I did know – from her
posts – that she was having a ‘shake’ for breakfast and eating healthy. I
observed from a far, no need to stalk her as posts just came up in my feeds.
Then another old school friend Josephine started posting similar posts and it
got my attention a little more – to be honest I can’t remember the exact order
of my investigations but I wanted to know what the deal was.
They were both living, what appeared to be
a carefree life, going out to eat frequently, treating their kids and just
having the spare cash that I wish I had, but on top of that they looked great!
Since 2014 going into 2015 after having a major breakdown which resulted in
almost 6 months off work and eventually leaving, I was trying to find my feet
again, find a direction that would make me happy again, happy to look to the
future while being thankful for what I already had in my life. I wanted a
little of what they had – but was it a scam? Surely not, I went to school with
these women, Ashley was in my class for my whole 5 years at school, sat behind
me for our GCSE years – she wouldn’t lead me astray? I contacted her about the
products she was taking, and then contacted Josephine so that she could
corroborate - I was in Colombo mode. Josephine was more than excited about the products and about being part of the
business and suggested that I came down to an event that was open to anyone to
see what the buzz was all about.
I need to rewind a little – before I
contacted Josephine I had already placed an order with Ashley for the products.
I got the products in May of this year but didn’t start taking them until the
end of June, I was moving house and when I started them I wanted to give them
the best chance. I had realized early on that it wasn’t a miracle product to
loose weight; it was all about mindset and changing the way you think about
food. I grew up with what I refer to as ‘a health freak mum’ we only ate meat
once or twice a week, didn’t eat sweets and mum grew her own wheatgrass and
sprouts and juiced practically every day. I knew and know about healthy eating
but I guess I got lazy and needed a wake up call – plus since moving out at the
age of 25 and living with my husband for the past 10 years more of his diet
became mine rather than the other way round.
 |
| I used to drink this and when I had a major op my mum made me rub it on my skin and bathe in it! There used to be trays of the stuff piled up in our kitchen. |
When I contacted Ashley about the business
side of the products she tagged me in some videos on Facebook, and added me to
some groups so that I could investigate what the business was all about. I
watched the videos and although I was amazed about what people were saying I
was still like ‘meh, I dunno’. So I took myself off to the event – bearing in
mind I’m not a sociable person – I was a little daunted with how many people
were there. I took a seat next to yet another person I went to school with and
she was with her mum, they were both taking the products and wanted to know
about the business (by this time I had been taking the products for at least a
week). I stayed a listened to the effects of the products and the business on ‘real
people’s lives’ and then I snuck off. I was like cool, I’ve investigated, don’t
think I can be part of the business and I’ll complete my 16 weeks on the
products and that will be that, at this time I hadn’t started taking the capsules I had ordered, I
was just taking the shakes – all I can say is that was a dumb move! It wasn’t
that I wasn’t interested in being part of the business; I just didn’t think I
had what it took to be in the business. I decided to let the opportunity
pass me by.
I carried on taking the products, started a
new job in September, teaching (this is what I was doing when I had my
breakdown – I didn’t know what else I could do). Obviously Ashley’s and Josephine's Facebook posts were still appearing on my timeline, and I wasn’t mad
it was good to see them doing so well. But I was slowly loosing my grip,
feeling trapped again, feeling depressed and anxious and feeling like the
business opportunity was too good for me not to give it a chance. I contacted Ashley
and told her about my concerns and she said she would support me. I said that I
would get back to her once I had got my diet right – yes, shock horror, I been
taking the shakes for 2 months and still wasn't eating clean! I went away worked
on my diet and within a month my body had changed and I was feeling better
about life. October, I handed in my resignation at work with the intention of
going into the business – I had no plan, but I had a positive outlook and I
hadn’t had that in long time (please click here for job update). November I joined the business and Ashley gave me
my first sale and low and behold, yet another school friend who I also went to
sixth form with and our kids go to the same nursery. I quickly learnt that this
business was built on trust, honesty and just being you.
So where am I now and what’s the point of
this ever sooooo long post? Well I’ll tell you, like the title of the post says the products aren’t just about weight loss. I’m part of team called ‘The
Healthbabes Project’, and being part of that team has changed my life, in ways
that I don’t express to everyone. It has changed me to the point that my eyes
are filling with tears as I write this post. Being part of the team and talking
with the MOST POSITIVE GROUP OF WOMEN I have ever had the pleasure to speak
with has had a monumental effect on me. I am more positive and less anxious,
when I start to think negatively I give myself a mental slap and think of a
something that Ashley or Josephine or any of the other women might say to me at
that moment and then I just tell myself ‘I can do this!”. I’m not saying that this business is easy (and if may take me longer than others) but
the rewards outside of the potential financial gain are massive! I’m
still learning, still have to push myself, but the experience is forcing me out
of my comfort zones – and we should all know that that’s when you can really
achieve.
When I started this blog I was lost, I
didn’t have a plan. Since being a ‘Healthbabe’ I’m feeling more positive, I see
the future that I want to work towards, I’m still teaching but certain changes
that I wanted to happen to my working pattern have happened. I’ve put a plan in
motion to eventually leave, I’m going to become a fitness instructor, I have signed up for a course and will gain:
- a Certificate in Teaching Exercise, Movement and Dance to Adults
- a Certificate in Fitness Instructing Exercise to Music
- and I will be a qualified Zumba Instructor
I can already see how it will help my business and have other courses I want to do. Going
on this course is probably one of the biggest steps I have taken – people that
know me know that I always wanted become a dancer, I had a place a uni
and everything, and I changed my mind because of love. Although I’m still
with my amazing husband (18 years and counting), not following my dream and
what was a passion, has been my biggest regret in life. Healthbabes and their
business ethos are helping me to reclaim my dreams and work towards being a
better me.
If you feel like making a change feel free to contact me, I'm sharing all of me to hopefully make a difference to someone else xx
