Living Magazine Fall 2018 doTERRA Living Magazine | Page 24

Marsha Ruff Tips for Success Marsha Ruff has tried many times in the past to lose weight. She would lose some weight and then become very discouraged when she felt she was not losing enough. After having her children, she lost any interest in trying to work out. Marsha constantly felt as if she was failing and slipping further away from her goals. She lost all confidence in herself. She especially hated taking pictures with her kids. “I only take pictures with my kids so they have them,” says Marsha. “They are for them only. I usually try to have them on my lap so you can’t really see my body. I just don’t want to be so self-conscious.” Wanting to be an active part of her children’s life, and to gain confidence in her body, Marsha decided to join the Slim and Sassy challenge. “My biggest support was going on this journey with my mother-in-law. She introduced me to dōTERRA and the competition. It was amazing to see our progress unfold together. It was amazing sharing the experience along with her, too. There is no one that I could imagine having a better experience with.” ® Breaking the Old Habits Making poor nutrition choices was also a struggle for Marsha. Often choosing convenience over quality was having a detrimental effect on her heath. Marsha struggled for many years to stop drinking caffeinated, high-sugar beverages. She says, “I practically had to learn how to drink water again. Lemon essential oil helped me with that, luckily! I have never been very big on drinking water, but I know that it really made a huge difference in living a healthier lifestyle. I no longer buy caffeinated drinks because I have all the energy I need. I tried to cut caffeine many times, but I felt much better without it very early in the competition. I know dōTERRA products have really given me that kick-start I needed. It feels great being off soda for three months.” Cutting out sugary sodas helped Marsha make other healthier choices. Marsha says “I use Slim & Sassy ® Metabolic Blend (Oil and Softgels), Slim & Sassy TrimShake (perfect for busy mornings), DigestZen TerraZyme ® , Micro Plex VMz ® Food Nutrient Complex, and xEO Mega ® Essential Oil Omega Complex to help me achieve my goals.” Making Healthier Choices After failing at past attempts of setting weight loss goals, Marsha was nervous to see if she could make healthier choices this time. She lacked confidence in her ability to attain the goals she set, which resulted in increased negative thoughts about her body. She was very self-conscious of her insecurities. By making small changes, like preparing a healthful lunch instead of snacking all day, however, Marsha has found she can make healthier choices. “I feel confident in my ability to make good choices. The best part is that I can be happy making better choices! I do not need all the snacks, since my cravings have decreased significantly. I can also enjoy healthy foods! That is a huge one for me. I would say most of my previous food intake was either too huge of portions or not something I should eat often. I realized how bad my previous diet was. I am much more aware of what I’m putting into my body. I absolutely love the TrimShakes in the mornings. I just do not snack anymore on things that I should not eat at work. I can, and have, turned down treats. My priorities have changed a lot regarding the choices I make.” Finding Her Confidence Marsha’s life as a mom has always revolved around her kids. Most of her free time is spent with her children. Wanting to be a more active part of her children’s life was Marsha’s main reason for wanting to get healthy again. She has taken steps to ensure she is taking care of herself as well as her children. She has a new confidence in herself she never had before. She says, “I posted my before and after pictures on my Facebook page. That was huge. Most people have not seen the ‘real’ me in a long time. I let go of any fear and posted my before and after pictures. I want to be clear that I am 100 percent happy with where I am. I was nervous sharing my before picture. I feel much better now. I know I can’t change what I did to myself, but I can take a lot of pride in my accomplishments during this program and beyond.” Share the Experience Find Motivation “I feel like this challenge in itself was a huge motivator. I really wanted to challenge myself. Sometimes I tried pushing myself harder on the treadmill or making better choices. I took it a little at a time.” Celebrate Success “I set smaller goals that I felt I could reach. I let myself feel success in what I achieved instead of focusing on how much further I wanted to go. I felt the same success at fifteen pounds as I did reaching 25, 35, or 45 pounds. Allowing myself to feel successful kept me feeling much more positive. It is important to celebrate every goal and accomplishment you make. It also helps prevent yourself from feeling overwhelmed.” *Results vary based on diet and exercise. Typical loss may be less. “The Slim and Sassy contest has changed my life. I look at old pictures and think ‘That’s not me anymore.’ This contest has given me my life back” - Marsha Ruff RESULTS: MARSHA HAS LOST 47.2 POUNDS!* BEFORE