With her 50th birthday approaching, Lisa Ebert wanted to make some changes. The former Maplewood resident, who now lives in Springfield, says she had tried dieting and working out but nothing seemed to be working. Discouraged but determined, Ebert decided to reach out to a friend she’d been watching undergo a veritable metamorphosis on Facebook.
“She looked completely different,” Ebert recalls. “She’d lost weight; her skin was glowing. I said to her, ‘What are you doing?””
It was then that the college administrator first learned about the 30-day nutritional cleanse that would ultimately resolve many of the health challenges she’d been experiencing.
“At first, I thought, ‘I can’t do that,’ but as time went on, I decided, ‘I have to try this,” Ebert says.
The system requires drinking two protein shakes in place of meals while eating a sensible dinner consisting of non-processed, “clean” foods. Not pulling any punches, Ebert shares that the first few days were a struggle.
“As a heavy coffee drinker, I felt headache-y as everything got of my system,” she says.
Once she got beyond the early stage, Ebert says she began to see and feel the changes she’d been hoping for. By the end of 30 days, she’d lost 18 pounds and 26 inches.
“Within two weeks, I had a lot more energy and I started to feel a sense of clarity. I was sleeping better. And just as I had with my friend, people began noticing and asking me what I was doing.”
Thrilled with the results, Ebert decided to pursue part-time career as a nutritional coach, offering the cleanse and serving as a resource to clients.
“My motto is ‘Just give me 30 days,’ because by the end you really will feel the difference. Most of my clients are in Maplewood and South Orange and 95 percent are so happy that they tried it.”
Ebert says when most people hear the word “cleanse,” they think of colonics but this system is all about “eliminating and eating in a healthier way.” The shakes and smart snack choices present a perfect option for those on the go who routinely turn to fast food or a pricey coffee fix for a quick meal or burst of energy.
When it comes to cost, Ebert says there are various price points, but depending on your needs and lifestyle the system often proves less expensive for those who are accustomed to grabbing food while on the go.
Recognizing that making this dietary shift can be an overwhelming for some, the nutritional coach says, “I’m an advocate for progress not perfection. It’s not about deprivation. It’s about flooding your body with nutrition and I’m available to my clients if they have questions or need support at any point along the way.”
Ebert maintains a Facebook page where her cleansers can share their experiences and successes as well as answer each other’s questions.
“It’s a lot of fun. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas I have contests and prizes for those who stay within four pounds of their goal weight,” she says.
For those who’ve achieved their goals but want to continue and maintain their newfound sense of wellness, Eber says you transition to one shake a day.
“By that point, you’re on a different level. I feel so much better. My sugar cravings disappeared and I felt like I wasn’t chasing food any longer. It’s a non-issue. You look forward to the meals you’re having and you look forward to shopping for them and trying new recipes.”
Even with the amazing changes she’s seen in her own life, Ebert says the best part of her whole experience has been getting to know people and watching them succeed.
“They’re so happy,” she says. “Many of my clients are women just like me. Because of age and peri-menopause or for whatever reason, the weight just comes on and no matter what you do, nothing seems to work. They were almost at the point of giving up, and to see how excited they are, it’s really great. I like for people to get to their best.”
For more information, contact Lisa Ebert at lisa.ebert@gmail.com or call 908-477-6397.
This feature is part of an ongoing wellness series. If you have a health or wellness business you’d like to see covered by The Village Green, contact us at villagegreennj@gmail.com
