An update on my health journey!

Have you ever set a goal to get in the best shape of your life? That's precisely what I did in January, and this week I took another big step toward achieving it. 💪

I'm happy to report that my daily workouts have become a habit, and I've exercised almost every single day this year so far! I'm also following the Mediterranean diet – eating mostly healthy whole foods, very little red meat, and cutting out processed foods as much as possible. It is honestly not always easy for me. (Food is the hard part for me and always has been.)

I admit I'm only about 85% compliant with the diet, but it's a start, and I've already lost 20 pounds. However, I need to lose another 15-20 pounds to reach a healthy weight, and I've been plateaued for weeks now. It's frustrating! 😑 I knew I was going to have to take things to the next level to see more progress, and that's where Zoe comes in!

I know I'm not alone in wanting to improve my health, and I believe that one-size-fits-all doesn't work when it comes to health and nutrition.

That's why I'm excited to share Zoe, a program created by the world's top scientists who led three of the largest nutrition research studies. These experts hail from the world's most respected research institutions, including Stanford Medicine, Harvard, Mass General, and King's College London. 🧠

Zoe provides an at-home testing kit that analyzes gut bacteria, blood sugar, and blood fats. Most of the testing is done in one day (everything you have to send off to a lab), and you even get some special muffins to put your metabolism to the test on day one.

Full disclosure: they're not going to win any baking awards with the muffins, but it's only breakfast and lunch for one day, and then they're done, so I survived. 😂

Once you have your results, you get a personalized program to help improve your gut health and recommendations for how to eat in a way that will work with your metabolism. There are no off-limits foods, but they'll tell you how to combine foods to make them work for your body. Plus, Zoe has a great app with coaches you can access for four months, so you never feel stuck. 🙌🏻

I'm learning so much in the app while doing the testing! Every day, they teach me something new about how our body processes food. It's like getting a mini-education on nutrition and it's honestly fascinating to me!

I just sent off everything for the lab tests the other day and I am currently tracking what I eat for three days while using the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to see how my body handles the foods I usually eat. Next week, I'll be doing some “blood sugar challenges” to take advantage of the CGM while I have it and see how my body responds to different foods. For example, I'll be trying a bagel one day for breakfast, bacon the next, and both on the third day to compare the differences each day and see how the carbs and protein compare. It's fascinating stuff, and I can't wait to get all of my results back!

If you're interested in checking out Zoe, they gave me a link to share that will save you $35 if you order a kit (and I will get an extra month in the app for free if you use my link). If you're curious, just use this link (if it asks for my name, put Julie Lowe), and you'll save $35.

I'll keep you all updated on my progress and let you know how it's going! 🤞