Friday, August 15, 2014

Plexus Products

If you are friends with me on Facebook or have liked our Living Healthy with the Vogele's page, you would have read, skimmed over, or ignored a post about Plexus.  Plexus has really changed how I am able to live my life.  Without it, I would probably be enduring more embarrassing doctor appointments, awful testing, long waits in waiting rooms and countless calls to our insurance company.

At one point in visiting doctors for my "stomach problems" I was referred to Mayo Clinic, just because they didn't know what else to do for me.  It was at this point that I just kind of gave up.  My stomach problems, which they later named IBS-D, were ruining my life.  I wasn't able to live.  I wasn't sure how much linger I wold be able to work as a teacher.  If you know anything about ISB-D, you would understand why.

One day my sister in law asked if I had tried Plexus.  She was telling me about all the great things it was doing for her family.  She was sure it would help me.  She and her husband had lost lots of weight.  Her husband was able to quite drinking the energy drinks and pop for a mid day pick me up.  He no longer craved candy bars or snacks when he was on the road.  Her kids were no longer having allergy problems.  The list goes on and on.  I put her off for several months.  Yeah, I needed to lose some weight, but nothing was going to solve the health predicament I was in.

One day I saw a post on Facebook that she had posted.  It said something that caught my eye about what can Plexus do for you?  For some reason I clicked on that link and ordered.  I called her afterwards and said I think I made a big mistake.  For some reason I signed up to be a Plexus Ambassador for a product that I have never even tried...  (To be honest, I signed up because I wanted the cheapest price)  She assured me that it was a good thing, asked me to let her know when I got my product, and encouraged me to read everything I could about the company.

The first and foremost thing that stuck out to me was the fact that so many people that sell Plexus are Christians.  My up-line Diamond Ambassador was praising Jesus for the opportunity to help people.  I had seen post after post about God, Jesus and probably the Holy Spirit and how grateful they were for them, the company, and the difference it had made in their life.  I read testimonial after testimonial about how Plexus was changing lives all over the world.  I was hooked before I even got the product to my door.  I read about people with IBS that don't have problems.  People with Fibro were able to live a more normal life.  People with diabetes were able to get their blood sugars under control and people with high cholesterol were able to come off their medication.  There are so many other testimonials about other things like PCOS, gout, thyroid, skin disorders, fungus, candida overgrowth, etc.  It is such a wonderful product.  It gives your body exactly what it needs to function right so that it can run the way its supposed to.  Along with all of these great testimonials, weight loss is usually a side effect too!  AWESOME right? :)

Plexus Worldwide has an array of items that can help any person on their journey to weight loss.  Whether you are looking to manage your weight effectively, support your body, or fill a nutritional gap, you will likely find what you are looking for with Plexus!  I am going to give a quick overview of all the products that are available, because I know you are dying to find out more.

Plexus Slim
Having trouble losing weight and keeping it off? You're not alone. But don't worry! Finally there is the most-natural way to help you lose weight for the long term. Plexus Slim is the most-natural way to lose weight and inches by burning fat, not muscle. Slim also helps keep blood sugar, cholesterol and lipids at healthy levels. In addition, Slim helps reduce binge eating and increases your willpower over food. Simply pour into a bottle of water 30 minutes before a meal, drink, and experience the results you've been dreaming of...

Features and Benefits:

  • Safe and effective weight control
  • Helps regulate blood sugars 
  • Helps maintain healthy blood pressure 
  • Promotes beneficial cholesterol and lipid levels 
  • Proven ingredients—including Alpha Lipoic Acid, Chlorogenic Acid, and Garcinia Cambogia—that address all areas of weight loss 
  • No meal replacements 
  • No shakes 
  • Fast and easy 
  • Saves you time 
  • A simple solution combined with water to help you succeed.
Accelerator+

If you thought Plexus Slim was a terrific way to lose weight, just wait until you team it up with Plexus Accelerator+. When taken with Plexus Slim, the Accelerator+ helps speed up weight loss or helps people overcome weight plateaus. Simply take one capsule with one stick pack of Plexus Slim 30 minutes after breakfast. The combination of ingredients in the Plexus Slim and Plexus Accelerator+ work synergistically to help you lose weight—easy and fast!

Features & Benefits:

  • Boosts weight loss safely and effectively
  • Proven ingredients — to boost metabolism, suppress appetite and accelerate weight loss
  • Increases energy
  • Suppresses appetite
  • Speeds up weight loss in fat and inches
  • Synergistic benefits help increase the effectiveness of Plexus Slim
  • Convenient and easy to use
  • Great 3-day and 7-day packs to sample the products
  • Gluten Free
Boost
Looking to turn up the heat on your weight loss? Plexus Boost is an alternative companion to Plexus Slim, formulated to energize your life! The thermogenic blend of ingredients in Boost contains Caralluma Fimbriata, an edible cactus that has been traditionally used by tribal East Indians for years to suppress hunger and enhance endurance through increased energy. It has now been clinically proven to suppress appetite, reduce body weight and increase energy intake. Plexus Boost also contains Yerba Mate which has been shown to be a stimulant, diuretic and it may assist with weight management. The Higenamine used in Plexus Boost, sourced from Tangerine Peel and Lotus Seed, has been shown to increase energy. Plexus Boost is sure to live up to its name, helping deliver the weight loss results you want and the energy you need.* 


XFactor

Consuming multi vitamin supplements is a good thing. With our poor diets and all the other threats to our health, it’s critical to have a high-quality food source of vital nutrients. But did you know that even if you’re taking a multivitamin product, you’re probably not getting nearly the level of superior-quality nutrients you thought you were? In fact, studies suggest that the majority of multivitamin products are of poor quality and difficult for the body’s digestive tract to break down, digest and absorb. But there’s great news! Plexus, a world-recognized leader in the health and nutritional industries, has developed a breakthrough in vitamin supplements. Plexus XFactor is a turbocharged multivitamin and antioxidant supplement with a never-before-seen formulation of a patented aloe blend, New Zealand Blackcurrant, and vitamins; all of which results in vastly improved absorption and assimilation for optimal nutrition and wellness protection.

Features & Benefits:

  • Delivers several B vitamins, vitamins D, C and E, the antioxidant protection of New Zealand Blackcurrants, and the impressive nutrient profile of Aloe
  • Oxygenates the body, safeguarding against damaged/dysfunctional cells
  • Provides super-potent antioxidant protection
  • Delivers support for whole-body wellness
  • Supports the body’s functions, processes and systems
  • Super-charges the body’s various immune activities

XFactor Family Chewables

XFactor Family Chewables contain the superior New Zealand Blackcurrant, which is a powerful nutrient-rich berry known for its potent antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help eliminate free radicals and toxins, and provide support for a healthy balanced life.*

Plexus 96 (Vanilla and Chocolate)
Plexus 96, our protein meal on-the-go, is designed to support you on your Plexus Weight Loss program. Find yourself in a hurry with no time to stop for breakfast? Tempted to pick up a quick fast-food lunch? Plexus 96 is there to rescue you. Avoid high calorie meals and starving yourself.
Features & Benefits:
  • Contains more than 20 vitamins and minerals for optimal nutrition
  • Delivers high-quality whey protein isolate and concentrate to help build lean muscle and fuel the body's needs
  • Provides comprehensive amino acid profile for proper brain, muscle and energy function
  • Helps curb cravings and hunger
  • Helps maintain optimal blood glucose levels
  • Delicious and easy to use for an active lifestyle
ProBio5
Do you suffer from sugar cravings, inexplicable fatigue or bloating, anxiety or a "brain fog"? Fortunately, ProBio5 provides a solution to many of today's "mystery" symptoms. ProBio5 features five extra strength probiotics, added enzymes, intestinal flora, B6 Grape Seed extract and vitamin C—all in one effective delivery system — that supports the breaking down of hostile organisms that negatively impact your health.
Features & Benefits:
  • Yeast organism (Candida) and fungal cleanse
  • Proper probiotic balance in the intestinal tract
  • Proper intestinal balance which increases nutrient absorption
  • May help with relief from typical Candida symptoms (anxiety, recurring irritability, lethargy, allergies, acne, dry/flaky skin, migraines, and so forth)
More Information:
ProBio5 will typically provide the following results: A relief from typical Candida symptoms, which may include anxiety, recurring irritability, heartburn, indigestion, lethargy, extreme food and environmental allergies, acne, dry, flaky, itchy skin, jock itch, migraine headaches, recurring cystitis/vaginal infections, premenstrual tension, and menstrual problems. A very large percentage of the population, all ages, sexes and races have a yeast overgrowth and don't even know it!

BioCleanse
As a result of modern lifestyle, most of our bodies are burdened with toxic waste and slow metabolism. A specially formulated Magnesium compound with Oxygen Enhancement and Vitamin C with Bioflavonoids, Plexus Bio Cleanse can help do the following:
Features & Benefits:
  • Oxygenates the entire body
  • Helps cleanses the gastro-intestinal tract and arteries
  • Helps energize the body
  • Enhances weight loss
  • Supports collagen production
  • Relieves constipation
More Information:
How does Plexus Bio-Cleanse help you?
Plexus Bio Cleanse oxygenates and energizes your body while helping cleanse wastes, pathogens and plaque in the gastrointestinal tract, colon, arteries, blood, etc.
Why do you need Plexus Bio-Cleanse?
Many people are in a low oxygen/toxic state. This is caused by poor diet, stress, low activity levels, polluted air and shallow breathing. The body cannot keep up its metabolism in this state, and begins to gather waste products more rapidly than it can eliminate them. Viruses, bacteria, fungi and other pathogenic microbes thrive in this condition, and can lead to diseases such as flu, Candida, chronic fatigue, etc. Plexus Bio-Cleanse can increase the oxygen levels around these microbes, causing them to die due to their high-oxygenated environment.

Fast Relief Nerve Health Support
Nerve damage is present to some degree in most cases of chronic pain, especially neck and back pain. Nerve damage can occur due to trauma, medication side effects, or other metabolic issues.
Features & Benefits:
Specially formulated combination of vitamins, minerals, herbs and amino acids.  May reduce the associated symptoms from nerve damage of pain, numbness, tingling, 'pins and needles' sensations, and weakness.

Fast Relief Cream
The Plexus Fast Relief™ Cream is for fast, temporary relief of discomfort and helps the body to reduce pain quickly, safely and effectively. Simply rub the cream on the area giving you discomfort and within minutes you may have the temporary relief that you want.
Features & Benefits:
  • Provides synergistic "inside-outside" relief with the Fast Relief™ Capsules
  • Non-greasy and with pleasant scent
  • Easy to use
Fast Relief Capsules
For long-term relief you will want to take the Fast Relief™ Capsules. Day after day, you may notice your discomfort becoming less and less. That’s all there is to this amazing Relief System, take the Fast Relief™ Cream for immediate and Fast Relief™ Capsules for long-term.
Features & Benefits:
  • All-natural
  • Unique, proprietary ingredient blend
  • May provide comprehensive “inside-outside” synergistic relief with the Fast Relief™ Cream
  • No side effects
Breast Chek Kit
A breast chek kit consists of two micro-thin layers of polyurethane with a non-toxic lubricant sealed in between. When the breast chek is placed on the breast, the bottom layer gently adheres to the skin and remains stable allowing the upper layer to slide freely underneath your fingertips. As the upper layer slides freely over the bottom layer, friction is greatly reduced. This results in what is called ‘sensory touch magnification.’ Or, in other words, your sense of touch is greatly improved, thereby improving the effectiveness of all breast self exams you do as part of your breast health program. 

Body Cream
Plexus Body Cream is a unique skin renewing cream with Spirulina Algae and Activated Charcoal! Initial reports say that Plexus Body Cream has been found to revitalize the skin over the entire body of both men and women. The effective detoxifying action is promoted by Spirulina Algae, plus the new addition of Activated Charcoal, to remove age-advancing toxins and impurities from the skin. These ingredients are carried into the skin's layers on a Rich Blend of Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera Gel), Sweet Almond Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Lavender Oil and Rosaceae Oil. Plexus Body Cream brings new life and vibrancy to your skin!
Features & Benefits:
  • Features powerful Spirulina Algae
  • Activated Charcoal helps fight against age-advancing toxins and impurities
  • Rich Blend of Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera Gel), Sweet Almond Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Lavender Oil and Rosaceae Oil
  • Revitalizes the skin over entire body for both men and women
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Get out and vote!

Today is the day you get out and vote!  I did.  When explaining to seniors in government class why it was important to vote I brought up several different points when they mentioned their ONE vote did not matter.

Why your ONE vote matters:
People fought long and hard for your right to vote.  Whether it was fighting for our freedom or fighting for equality, someone paid a price for your right to vote.  On the same hand, they paid the same price for you to choose NOT to vote.  Isn't living in the land of the FREE grand?

Think of what elections would look like if we all went out and voted.  Some people complain about the electoral college.  It was created because the average voter was not educated and couldn't be trusted to make a well informed decision.  Sometimes I think that is still the case today.  Who spends the time they should researching the candidates that are ultimately going to be in control of the country we live in?  I know I don't, although I do some.

One vote can change the outcome of ANY election.  Take a look at this website and see exactly what ONE vote could do.  It is quite interesting.

Last, I have a sign hanging by my desk at school as a constant reminder.  Plato said, "The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men".  How true it is!

Your ONE vote matters.  Whether you cast your ballot because of the ones that have lost their lives fighting for your freedom, for the women that fought making sure you had equal rights, or for the right no matter what your color of skin is to stand at a voting machine and push buttons, just vote.  Nothing will change until you make your voice heard.

I voted...Did you?

Monday, August 4, 2014

Day for Coop Cleaning!

Ahhh...  The joys of having chickens.  Not much is better than "Clean Out the Coop Day".  Oh, OK, a lot is better than clean out the coop day, but it is something that has to be done whether you like it or not.  I prefer to keep a clean chicken coop and have it smelling nice.  Thus, we have to clean it often.  Plus, I think the chickens are happier when it is clean and therefore will lay more delicious eggs.  (HEY!  It is my story...)
The men getting ready to start cleaning.
First thing we did was remove the nesting box and the roosting bars.  Since the brooder house is a bit heavy, we decided not to move it this time.  Josh then swept all the shavings up.  Once it was in a big pile, the boys held a giant trash bag for us to putt he shavings in.  I wish we had a bigger compost pile.  This would make GREAT compost for the garden...  Chicken droppings are great for gardens after they have been composted.  
Glad I have such a great man to help with the chores.
When researching tips about keeping chickens for dummies I came across a website full of lovely ideas. One of the things that I noticed was a natural coop cleaning solution.  We keep trying to move to a more natural household and I figured what better way to test out a cleaning solution than in the coop!  And what a test the mess would be!  Go check out Fresh Eggs Daily for the recipe of the cleaning solution.  It uses vinegar, oranges (or other citrus fruits), cinnamon sticks, and vanilla beans.  It worked awesome, and smelled great too!
I mixed the solution half and half with water in a spray bottle I had under the cabinet.
I sprayed the walls, baseboards, roosts, etc with the spray and wiped it down with a paper towel.  I think next time I will use rags because the paper towels just tore on the rough walls.  The cleaner worked exceptionally well and I will mix up another batch to be ready for the next cleaning day.

Spray On, Wipe Off!  :-)
After everything was cleaned, we moved the nesting boxes back in and installed the roosting bars.  Then we covered the floor with pine shavings again and also some DE.  With all the poop you can have a bit of a bug problem.  DE is natural and great for bugs.  It helps keep mites away and also other pesky bugs out of the coop.  The pine shavings are great for absorbing liquids and keep the coop smelling fresh, for the most part.  plus I think the chickens enjoy fluffing it.  We also fill the nesting boxes with it.  I have read some awful things about hay in nesting boxes and the things that live in the hay, so we will be staying away from that.  Also realize that pine shavings are not the only method for covering your coop floor.  You can read all about the different methods of litter for chicken coops over at the Chicken Chicks Website.  She evaluates lots of different methods.  Her favorite is sand.  Pine Shavings are easier for us to get than a load of sand.

Fresh bedding in the clean coop.
Clean feeders too!
I love our chicken feeders that we made.  They were a tad expensive to get all of the materials needed, but the chickens waste so much less than they did with a traditional feeder.  These are totally worth it.  You can get everything you need from the hardware store.  All it is is a PVC pipe stuck into a Y pipe (not sure that is the technical name) with a cap on the bottom.  Super easy!  We chose black and white to match our floor.  You can use any color of pipe (teal and white is cheaper!).  We feed our chickens natural chicken feed.  We mix the feed 50/50 with a blend we make ourselves and a certified organic feed from a mill close by.  The recipe we use is quite simple and we can get all of the ingredients we need from the natural food store or the mill (if we want larger quantities).  Check out the link for the Chicken Feed Recipe we use.

Z mixing the feed.
Fresh herbs in the boxes too!
I have also read that herbs in the nesting box is a great bug deterrent and also provides the chickens with aromatherapy.   HA!  We love our chickens and want to give them the best egg laying experience.  Short of taking them to the spa, this is what we can do...  Over at the Chicken Lady's Website she talks about herbs in the coop.  She also has pre-made baggies that you can purchase to sprinkle into your nesting box.  I gave it a shot and it looks lovely and smells lovely and I just think the chickens ADORE me for giving them such luxury.

Happy chickens!
Although cleaning out the chicken coop is not the most exciting thing to do, it does allow for us to spend time together as a family.  It is awesome to have the opportunity to provide food for our family that we know is fresh, safe, and healthy.  Nothing tastes better in the morning than a freshly gathered egg from our own backyard.

Our cute egg carton labels.
Fresh Eggs!!

Our Chicken Feed Recipe

We have found (and modified) a great chicken feed recipe that is easy to make, has great protein and nutrients for our chickens, and that they love to eat.  Below I will share the recipe so that if you want, you can make it for your chickens.

Vogele Chicken Feed
12 Cups of Feeder Oats (3.25 lbs.)
8 Cups of Soft White Wheat (3.5 lbs.)
8 Cups of Hard Red Wheat (3.5 lbs.)
6 Cups of Cracked Corn (2.5 lbs.)
4 Cups of Lentils (2 lbs.)  We use several colors to make it pretty!
4 Cups of Split Peas (2 lbs.)
4 Cups of Sunflower Seeds (2 lbs.)
2 Cups of Flax Seeds (0.75 lbs.)
1 Cup of Sesame Seeds (0.25 lbs.)
3/4 Cup of Kelp Granules (0.5 oz.)
2 TBSP of Oil (We use organic coconut oil.)

Mix these all very well.  The oil will help to coat everything in the Kelp.

You can also add garlic to the feed.  Garlic helps with mites.  I guess they do not like the taste of garlic chicken blood.  We have been using garlic and have notice no difference in the taste of the eggs.  The ratio of garlic to feed should be about 2%.

Our girls love the feed.
Z mixing the chicken feed by hand.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Sand Plum Jam

The crock pot comes in hand for lots of things!  It is one thing that i think that NO house should be without.  You can cook a ton of things in it and not heat up your house.  They come in tons of sizes to match any job.  When talking with my mom about the easiest way to cook the plums down, she recommended I use the crock pot.  It was super easy.  Let me tell you about the process.

Cleaning the plums.
First you want to clean the sand plums.  When doing this remove the stem and look for any bad spots.  I had quite a few that were squishy that I tossed into my chicken bowl.  They would have probably been ok, but The girls need treats too!  When I was done washing them I tossed them in the crock pot.
Filling the crock pot up with clean plums.
Once the crock pot is super full, put the lid on it and set the temp to low.  I let my cook over night and by morning the house was smelling wonderful and the sand plums were ready!  I did add a little water to make sure they didn't burn to the bottom.
Cooking away!
The next day I threw them into my food mill.  Once I had them all ran though I put the juice and pulp into a picture and set it ino my fridge until I was ready to make jelly.  
Jam ready for a bath.
The Jam did not take too long to make.  I accidentally screwed up when making it.  But, it came out just fine.  I added the sugar before I was supposed to.  Dang directions!  The following is the recipe I used.  It came out of the pectin box.

5 cups of Sand Plum juice
1/2 cup of Apple juice
6 1/2 cups of sugar
box of pectin

Bring juices and pectin to a full boil.  Add sugar, stir constantly, and bring to a boil.  Boil for 1 minute.  STIR STIR STIR.  Check for consistency and set up on a spoon.  You should be good to pack in jars.  Make sure to wash your jars.  It is super important to put hot stuff in HOT jars.  I learned my lesson on that one!

Process in a water bath for 5 minutes.  (Don't forget to add a minute for every 1000 ft in altitude.)

It tastes soooo good.  We might have to go back and pick some more!  

Friday, August 1, 2014

Picking Sand Plums

Yesterday evening, after I cleaned the card that my lovely little boy decided to cover in DE (diatomaceous earth), Josh and I went out to pick sand plums at a friends farm.  Funny story about the DE actually.  We were on our way to a neighboring town to get our cut sheered.  We pulled into the drive of the groomer when I heard a pop and a white dust storm filled the car.  I turned around to see that my dear son had a bag of DE on his lap and was covered head to toe in white.  So was the car!  After going through a range of emotions, I decided it was best to laugh about it and we brushed off the best we could and continued with our plans.  It only took me 3 hours to clean up and now my car looks new again.  Thank God for blessings that are disguised.
One of the bushes that we picked from.  They were loaded!
We got directions from a friend out to their bushes and started the several mile drive.  As we were driving down the dirt road, we could see that we were coming up on the bushes.  They are pretty easy to spot in ditches, if you know what you are looking for.There were several bushes and all of the bushes had tons of berries on them, ripe and ready for us to pick!  We got out of the car with our bags in toe and began to strip the bushes of their bounty.
Josh was taking pictures of me picking.
From across the bush.
While we were picking there was a lot of things to watch, hear, and smell.  We could hear quail in the distance, humming of the wind turbines in the near by field, and cracks of twigs when grasshoppers jumped.  I love the calm of the country.
Lots of berries to pick.
After about 45 minutes of picking, we gathered about 10 pounds of berries.  Not to bad!  We took them home and put them in a bowl.  Today, I will throw them in a crock pot with a bit of water and boil them down.  

To be continued...