Success Stories

Below are just a few of the success stories coming out of the Young Living Health and Wellness program. Please take a moment to read these stories and make a commitment to improving your health and taking the next excellent step.

Story 1:
Reflecting back on the past few months that I have worked for Young Living I can see quite a few positive changes in my life. After Russell explained the Wellness Program to me in March I decided to give it a try. Being a recent graduate, exercise had somewhat fallen by the wayside or taken a back seat to studies, thesis writing, different jobs etc.

Starting the program was tough, I began working out with my manager (the infamous Shayn Stavens) and sore muscles were an understatement. However, after a few weeks the initial soreness passed and I began to enjoy working out again. During this time I started using Pure Protein Complete, Omega Blue, Ningxia Red, and of course our True Source vitamins. I am happy to say I have never seen such quick gains as I did working out with my coworkers and taking our quality products.

Currently I am still working out at least 4 times a week and I ride my bike to work 3 days a week to help get more cardio (not to mention the money saved on gas). I think it is a huge benefit to work for a company that is focused on health and encourages their employees to live a healthy lifestyle.

-Jared Gower

Story 2:
My personal step toward wellness began 2 years ago. After being overweight for 19 years I was finally able to lose 56 pounds! After I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer last fall, I truly believe that losing the weight helped me recover from the 2 surgeries and the follow up radioactive iodine treatments that I had to undergo. Unfortunately, weight gain is one of the side effects you have when you are taken off of your thyroid medicine for the radiation treatment. It was so discouraging to see some of the weight come back on after working so hard to get rid of it, but considering the alternative, I can’t really complain. During the last year I have had to endure so many emotional highs & lows, the wonderful feeling of coming within 20 lbs of my weight loss goal, and the terrifying feeling of being diagnosed with cancer and not knowing if I was going to be around to see my children grow up. Emotional wellness goes right along with physical wellness, you really need both. Now that I am back on my medication, and cancer (and thyroid) free, I am ready to get my weight loss back on track! I am slowly getting my energy back, and starting to feel “healthy” again. It is exciting to wake up in the morning and know that you have another chance, a chance to be healthy, a chance to make a difference, and a chance to live life to the fullest!

-Valarie Scarpino

Story 3:
My parents visited my grandpa and my two aunts in June up in Washington State. Before they returned home I received a phone call saying that my aunt was dying of heart disease due to complications of diabetes. She had been put on hospice and only has less then a month to live. My other aunt was diagnosed with a complex from of heart failure, fibromyialgia, high cholesterol, and other complications due to diabetes. I was scared because I knew that my dad’s side of the family had a lot of health problems, and this news only added to my fears. My uncle died of heart failure, and my other uncle has suffered from complications to 3 massive heart attacks. In other words this past month confirmed the fact that I have “bad blood” that puts me at risk of heart disease and diabetes.

When my dad talked to me on the phone that day we decided to make a plan together to do everything in our power to fight this “bad blood”. We made a game plan of prevention. My mom’s side of the family has hypoglycemia, and if you know anything about this you will know that hypoglycemia can turn into diabetes if you don’t take care of it. Well, with both of those odds against me this game plan was a necessary for me. My dad and I decided we would exercise 3 times a week, and change our eating habits. We decided we would run at least 3 miles 3 times a week, and go on walks the other three days. And in June all three of us bought bikes and go on bike rides every Saturday.

I am the kind of person that needs goals to look forward to, so I went a step further. I found a half marathon at the end of August and signed up for it with a co-worker of mine. I needed motivation and also some one that could hold me accountable for my goal. I found a training guide on line for “How to Train for a Marathon in less then 8 weeks”. I have been following it religiously. I also have decided that I need to change my eating habits. I talked to a lot of people about the benefits of Power Meal and decided to eat it every morning for breakfast. It isn’t the tastiest change, or the easiest one (who likes giving up bacon and eggs) but it will be worth it in the long run.

I know these are just little steps, but my co-worker and I have already started looking into training for a sprint triathlon for next spring. I can’t control genetics. I can’t stop what is in my blood, but I can do my part in prevention. The best prevention for any disease is exercise and better eating. And as long as I know I have done my part, come what may, I can say I fought for my health!

-Angie Clark

Story 4:
I am going to talk a bit about stress. The word in itself doesn’t seem that bad – right? Everyone has stress – whether it has to do with your job, family or just life in general. Well for me stress was mentally draining me to the point that I felt as though I just existed. I couldn’t sleep at night, I had stomach problems that even Dr. prescribed medication wouldn’t touch, my eating habits consisted of pop and junk food, but worst of all was the way that I was pushing away people that I loved and cared for including family, friends and co-workers because all I wanted to do was crawl under a rock and hide.

Well, I decided to take control of my life. I made some serious choices that were probably the hardest that I have ever had to make in my life. Choices that not only affected me but people that I loved dearly. I made these choices because I came to the realization that this life is too short to be miserable and that you can be in control of your own life and do things that truly make you happy. After I realized that, I felt like a completely new person. I started actually sleeping through the night, eating a low carb- high protein diet, exercising regularly and just focused on enjoying my life, my family and my friends.

In conclusion, I believe that the next excellent step that I have chosen to take in terms of health and wellness is to have a positive outlook on life and to take the time to smell the roses and enjoy what I have been blessed with.

-Laci Mayer

Story 5:
My story: When I first started on the Wellness Program, I was very "gung-ho" and got my whole family involved... We had passes to a Rec. Center, so on weekends we would go swimming, and on week days, my hubby and I went to play racquetball or lift weights, or both... Sometimes we would get on the treadmills also. It was amazing to feel the results, and if you must have the whole story, almost every morning we would come home from the gym "feeling more attraction for each other", if you know what I mean... It was a great PERK for the program. I was happy, he was happy, and my daughter was getting more movement than just sitting and playing video games and computer games all day....

I also noticed, since it got me more points, I started looking for people to serve in my life (Community Service). It was amazing how many different opportunities presented themselves to our family for serving the community. There were several neighbors, friends, and family members that have been blessed by what we have been able to do for them. One thing that brings me a lot of joy, is I volunteer almost daily to babysit my neighbor's daughter so her mother can clean the house and get caught up on other things, and we love having the little girl at our house. She brings me great joy!!

I started dropping a little weight and getting more tone in my muscles during the first few months, and noticed I had more energy at the end of the day after work for my family, which is important to me. Just before YLEO convention in June, and since then, we have dropped off on how much we exercise as a family. Time is a precious commodity, our passes at the Rec. Center expired, and we are saving up $$ to renew our annual passes, and our lives got incredibly more busy with a career change with my husband's work and his schedule changes... (he works graveyards now, so we only see each other for an hour each morning during the workweek)....

I am starting to get back whole-heartedly into getting out every day to walk, jog, or lift weights.... It has been a lot more tricky to work out, now that my "work-out partner" is no longer available since his work schedule changes. Having someone there to work out with is vital to success, if you ask me. I am re-motivating myself to the Fitness Program, as I am realizing that fitness is a long-term necessity, not just a couple of months commitment.... Besides, with Shayn Stavens leaving YLEO and quitting the Fitness Program, I might have a chance at Hawaii!! :)

I have also noticed that my health is greatly affected by how I feel about myself mentally, so I am very focused on all aspects of healing, improving, and changing my body formation and energy levels. I have been using a lot of "psychological" essential oil blends, getting bodywork treatments (massages, etc.), and also putting a lot of oil blends on my husband. We are both noticing that we have more hope in the future, more hope in our abilities, more determination to lead healthier lives so we can bless others with our skills, and our relationship is so much closer than it has been previous to starting the Fitness Program.

Thanks for the encouragement on making our families' lives, and those who work for YLEO, so incredible. Thanks for the free product, both through the Fitness Program and through the Employee Store. My life has truly been changed by the oils and the experiences I have had here at YLEO for the past 10 1/2 years! Thanks for making being healthy "normal" in a world of synthetic chemicals, fast everything, and lack of personal experiences. I love being healthy!! I am a work in progress, inside and out!

-Paula Thompson

Runner's Up

Ryan Shay died at age 27 on November 3, 2007 at the Olympic marathon trials in New York. He was an Olympic hopeful and experienced a major coronary event during the early stages of a race that he had run several times. As I reflect on this tragedy I recall the old adage, “There but by the grace of God I go”. It could have been me. It could have been anyone of us. We can find a small measure of comfort to know that Ryan was the exception. Many more will die (or experience major health impacts) due to chronic heart disease. In most cases heart disease takes a life time to develop and can be prevented. It is those “little steps” that add up. A busy schedule, a donut and soda to go, and so it goes…

A new chapter in my life began with open heart surgery the week prior to Thanksgiving in 2007. I officially began cardiac rehab in January of 2008. I began the YLEO Health and Wellness program in February 2008. I slowly began to walk. I was on oxygen and required a walker. Weights consisted of a series of lifts with my size 14 shoes. The YLEO program offered the chance to minimize cardiac risk factors (eliminate the negatives from diet, lifestyle) while maximizing good wellness factors (exercise, nutritional supplements, education). And who would have thought that I would already be back to running a 5k, lifting free weights on the incline press at 230lbs or machine bench pressing 330 lbs, or doing 200 push ups during a short lunch period? Not bad for an old fogy.

The immortal Jesse Owens said; “One chance is all you need”. All we need is a chance to capitalize on our opportunities. I would add; “Thank God for second chances”. With the second half of the Health and Fitness Program underway we all have been granted a second chance to win the big one to Hawaii or even more importantly to experience that excellent next step at whatever level of health we choose. Take this chance to do your best. Have fun. Love life.

-Bill Popin

The Young Living wellness program makes me a better person...Since I started working out, my body has changed in the good way and my attitude has also changed...I understand that when you work out you get more oxygen to the brain which makes you think better..Since I started taking the true source I feel my energy level goes up and helps me get through my work out... This program teach me how to eat better , rest , drink 64 oz of water daily , work out , help the community and much more and these are things I want to do for the rest of my life..This it the best prize from the wellness program your health. thank you Young Living and everybody the made this program possible thank you again...

-Carlos Martinez

I have always been an active person. I play volleyball and basketball in the winter. Water sports, softball and golf in the summer. I have never watched my weight or worried about what I should eat. But, with the years creeping up on me I decided to take the wellness challenge seriously. I stopped drinking pop and having pink cookies for breakfast. I replaced it with fruits water and veggies. But I could not get full. O started gaining weight; six pounds in one week so I talked to the doctor. He said to count calories. I gained more weight. I tried watching my carbs, I gained more weight. I was getting very frustrated and then Rachelle sent an email with a free website. For once I could see how many calories I ate in one day. How many calories I burned with exercise. Most of all what percent of bad fats I eat in one day. Between this website and Ningxia Red for energy I have seen a great difference in my life. Thanks so much.

-Angela Morgan

My little "next step" was inspired recently by Gary, Mary, Marcie, and the fabulous distributors at Distributors Week there in St. Maries, ID. I noticed during that week that daily meditation, not only veggies and fruits, but also only whole grains and no refined sugars, in addition to positive thinking made a world of difference. So now my personal fitness record has all the normal, wonderful point categories affixed as well as an additional few columns to see how I am doing at eating whole grains, no refined sugar, and maintaining a positive atmosphere and attitude of gratitude. Thanks for helping us be our best!

-Tiffany Covington