There has always been this little part of me that kept going back to comfort foods. I don't know if it was because as a teenager that is all I had. My mom went back to work, my sister grew up and had friends that were totally cooler than her older sister was, and at school was sort of the spaz of the group of friends that I hung out with. My mom worked sixty plus hours a week, and I was in charge of dinner. She would leave a $20 Bill under a book, or in a magazine and then I would go to the store and buy dinner. Sometimes that meant comfort from the things that life was throwing at me.

Part of what I didn't know was that the food that was comforting me, was also killing me as my severe food allergies were starting to come through.

7 Lessons I Learned in 2014

At the end of the year I like to go back and look through what I've learned, and build on the items that really had a major impact on my health, relationships, business or just the way I look at the world. I want to share with you 7 lessons I learned about all of these areas last year, and maybe the will change something for you in 2015.

My list of lessons I learned: 

1. Sometimes in order to let go of something, you have to realize it is already gone. 

I had a heck of a time this year right from the get go. My emotions were truly on a bender for most of the year. Between losing some relationships, realizing that some of my goals just were not going to happen in the way that I desired, and that was like this booming ah-ha moment. Think manifestation and how it happens on it's own time schedule and in it's own way, right?

What does realizing mean? First it is becoming fully aware of something as a fact, or understanding a situation fully. Or second, to cause something desired or anticipated to happen. 

I had to realize that my control is gone the second I put something out there. Be it love, knowledge, desire.... I cannot move something that is not me. Get it? So I let it go. I started this meditation journey this year and I have let go of that fear of the great beyond. I'm allowing my own journey to happen, and reminding myself that others are on their own journey and I can only guide.

2. Leaky Gut syndrome is BIG time. 

I started realizing this year... being fully aware... that leaky gut is something that I was really dealing with. Over the year I did several candida style clean outs, and am finally getting rid of that overgrowth and the parasites that went along with it. However it wasn't until a few months before the year ended that I accepted the fact that I needed to address my leaky gut. So I am. It's a journey, but the more I learn, the more people I realize are dealing with this just like I am. So it's not just me, it's our society. That means that if we don't address it we're going to see more and more people dealing with this in ways that are just horrific to think about. Surgeries, medications, passing on debilitating epigentics. This may well be one of the top health items of our generation.

3. The most important life key is service. 

I think I love this, but I also had some additional ah-has related to this life lesson I learned. When you are working with someone, it should always be about the service without any attachment of expectations.

4. You need to have boundaries. 

Here's the second part of that life lesson... some people are just looking to suck your energy. You have to go through the key areas of designing your life by serving, of course, but then as you are building this relationship does it drive your purpose? Is the relationship aligned to everything that you are...business and personal. If not, draw a boundary and move into a place where you are healthy and fulfilled with the relationship and not resentful and unhappy.

5. I love you potatoes, but that doesn't mean you are my friend. 

I love and crave potatoes just about every day. But what I'm truly craving is not the actual starchy hot mess. It's the vitamin B6, potassium, copper, vitamin C, manganese, phosphorus, fiber, vitamin B3, pantothenic acid and resistant starch. Healing my leaky gut and taking the properly methyalated B vitamins is a big help. But I have to remember that I need all of the rest of the package too. Sometimes I still have potatoes. I like to make them, dice them, cool them so I can have them the next morning. I just don't have mashed, or baked potatoes anymore. They are not my friend. They bloat me and frankly for those of you like me, the nightshade family is very gut-irritating. So onto squash.

6. A picture is truly worth one thousand words. 

When marketing your image people will look if it's visual. Almost all of the time. People like pretty. they like seeing something. It connects to who we are. A study called “13 Reasons Why your Brain Craves Infographics“ (NeoMam Studios) reports that we’re “visually wired” – almost 50% of our brain is involved in visual processing. So if you are trying to connect with a growing audience, adding a great photo will do that.

7. I want to go global in a bigger way. 

I have finally come to a place, even with the horrible year for airplane crashes, that I am ready to get beyond my fear and travel outside of my comfort zone to places of beauty. Why not. I'm in need of more visually stunning arenas to live in. Isn't that why we love photos? So that is something I hope to add to this year. Hopefully I can take some of my global business friends with me.

What's the Amount Of Protein Available in Your Shake.

Protein... it's the key that every fitness fanatic, every muscle building guru wants in their mug at the end of the workout, at the end of the day. And I'm picky about what I put in my body, and so I've been very turned off and tuned into the more advanced shakes that are often very very costly. I have to admit... I like the Superfood status of what I'm putting in my body, although the more I learn the more I am learning about what really is being absorbed and what's really overkill in our systems. I'm learning when whole foods are best, and when you want to look for something that is raw and bioavailable for a supplement or SpectroActively compounded. Think about in the difference of your regular pharmacy and your compounding pharmacy. Old school done new technology. It's the difference between the amount of protein you may or may not be getting out of your shake.

So what about the different amounts of protein in different styles of products? 

The 80's and 90's are where the big push for SOY came into play. Suddenly everyone was in love with soy and it was the health buzz word that everyone wanted to add to their products. We know now that except for fermented soy it's really not the best item for our health, and we know that most of the soy in our country is genetically modified. We just didn't have that knowledge, or enough people sharing the knowledge even 10 years ago. So the industry standard in "health shakes" became full of soy protein for heart health. But soy protein isn't really a heart healthy food just like we've learned that fat-free isn't heart healthy either. In fact in the same likeness of other proteins in comparison in that soy protein shake you are only really getting 36% soy out of that soy protein, so the other 64% is the stuff you don't want. That's not a large amount of protein for your body from what you are taking in.

Now that being said, I have seen a lot of YouTube posts about the current most famous soy shake out there, talking about people really finding themselves unhealthy after drinking them for a year or more. I've been on a variety of superfood shakes over the last 3 years, and I'm healthier than I've ever been. So just make sure you are educating yourself before buying into something.

Where's the value in getting a lower amount of protein in your shake? 

In fact we did comparisons to what we feel is our number 1 competitor, and their shakes comparable protein was an amount of 48% of the protein substances were ready usable proteins, and ours is at a 90%!! How's that for value. And when you add in the sustained release of our ProMatrix Plus protein you are going to find out just how it feels to get all of the protein you need from the time you drink your shake, to six hours later. What do people want from a meal replacement shake? They want to lose weight, they want to recovery from their workout, they want to drink something that doesn't taste like chemicals. But they want value. They want to get like for like the best value for their money. And at a full $1.33 less per serving than our leading competitor's shake cost, I think you can see where the value really is!! Over the next few weeks as we are launching and we are going through The 28 Day Body Challenge, you are going to see that Shake FX is superior because of so many reasons... you may actually get tired of hearing me say those six words... Shake FX is a superior product because....

If you want to learn more about the products let's connect or head over to www. ActiveBodyElite.com and reserve your spot on the team.

BodyFX Direct Founder and Charter Coach Program

On April 8th, BodyFX will begin accepting orders for Fast Start Product Packs and Coach's Media Packs.

As our way of saying "Thanks" to those of you who have persevered with us through the initial "Pre PreLaunch Period" - and who are making the commitment to become a Coach prior to the availability of the complete BodyFX product line - all Reps who become a Coach during the month of April will forever be known as "Charter Coaches".

Charter Coach's will be divided into two categories:

#1. Founding Charter Coaches - The Company's first week of business will run from 9:00 am Pacific Time on Monday, April 8th -to midnight on Saturday April, 13th. Any Rep who purchases their Fast-Start Pack and Coach's Media Pack prior to midnight on April 13th will be forever be known as a "Founding Charter Coach".

Founding Charter Coaches will be at the very top of the "rotation list" when we begin assigning
infomercial customers. Founding Charter Coaches will also receive the following perks and benefits:

• Special Reception at BodyFX Kick-off Extravaganza Founding Charter Coaches will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with James and Jaana Kunitz, Jennifer Nicole Lee, Don Bodenbach and Cliff Layton in a smaller, more intimate atmosphere.
• "Up-front Seating" at BodyFX Kick-off Extravaganza By the time our Kick-off Extravaganza rolls around, there could be thousands of people in attendance. As a Founding Charter Coach, you will enjoy special reserved seating at the very front of the room!
• Photo Opportunity with James and Jaana Kunitz Founding Charter Coaches will have their portrait taken with James and Jaana in front of a "Special Background" that identifies you as a "Founding Charter Coach". Imagine the prestige of putting this picture on your BodyFX website or Facebook page!
• Founding Charter Coach "Pin" and Award Certificate All Founding Charter Coaches will be recognized at the Kick-off Extravaganza - and will receive a special "Founding Charter Coach Pin" and a Certificate commemorating your commitment to be a Founding Charter Coach