I have accumulated too much belly fat over the past few years! Because of that, I no longer have a regular belly button. I have a Tummy Frown! Ugh!

From things I have read, too much belly fat can be caused from stress, inactivity, and unhealthy eating. And extra belly fat is extremely unhealthy.

I’ve had quite a bit of stress these past years. In 2008, I had to start helping with finances and paperwork for my parents in another state. In 2010, my mother had shoulder replacement surgery, so I stayed with my father while she was in another city for the surgery. During that stay, we discovered that my father was suffering from dementia—and, evidently, had been suffering for several years. I had to take over finances and paperwork fulltime. My sister and I had to start dealing with all aspects of care for our parents—Dad with progressing dementia and Mom with numerous physical problems. I had to spend a great deal of time in Texas while trying to keep a fulltime job in Oklahoma. In March, 2012, I lost my job due to company-wide layoffs. In June, 2012, my father died. I had to deal with the additional paperwork and financial stress for my mother. I finally got another job in November, 2012, but it paid about 1/3 of what I had been paid before. And by that time I had lost my house, had to get rid of a majority of my possessions, and had to move into a small rental. Then, in December, 2013, my mother died. This is, of course, a very simplified inventory of the stress. But the stress has had much more than a simple effect on my life.

With everything that was happening to cause the stress, depression took away the energy and the desire to exercise. So—there is number two—inactivity.

And fast food works so well with extreme stress and inactivity. Except—it doesn’t really work well. It’s just another bad result of no time and no energy.

Finally, I’m able to work on the stress aspect, I recently started regular exercise again, and now I’m adding healthier eating with a 28 Day Detox Bootcamp. I start the new eating regimen tomorrow with help and support from a special group from Arbonne on Facebook!

The program includes getting rid of gluten, dairy, processed sugar, and soy for 28 days. It also includes getting rid of caffeine, but that can be reduced little by little instead of thrown out completely. Thank goodness! I think the total loss of caffeine right now would not be pretty!!!

Groceries have been bought, cooking some ahead has been done, and everything ready to start in the morning. I need to have as much possible ready at hand to help me stay on schedule in the morning. I think I’m ready!

The goal of the program is to help our bodies become more alkaline instead of so acidic. So we are healthier—with a side benefit of losing bad fat. Can’t wait to see how I feel and if this Tummy Frown has turned back into a regular belly button by the end of the 28 days! Let’s do this!