When One Door Closes - Trust the Banana Boat

29 May, 2026

Before I left south Florida this past March, I made my mind up to do the Shape Reclaimed program when I got back to northern Illinois.

Shape is a wellness program that can also result in weight loss. I wanted to do Shape because I’ve not been feeling well. I shared more about this in my Getting Real About My Current State of Being post.

I’ve done Shape Reclaimed before…

About 14 years ago, I was seriously ill. I was also overweight (still am) but losing weight sucks!

My focus is, was, and always will be on gaining health - not losing weight. Any weight loss is simply a very happy side effect.

My only goal in doing Shape was to get well.

In just under 8 months, I regained my health and lost 158 pounds.

The program is done thru a Shape Practitioner…

The Practitioner I saw during my first round of Shape has since retired.

So, I searched the web for someone new with the requirement that they also work remotely - due to my lifestyle.

I found several options and began looking for a new partner in crime.

Vain attempts to find a new Practitioner…

I called the office. No one answered and no one returned my message.

I also used the website Contact form. No one replied. I checked my spam folder, just in case, but nothing was there.

It didn’t take many fruitless attempts to realize these weren’t Practitioners worth working with.

One last ditch effort…

I gave it one more try with a different Practitioner and she got back to me right away.

We set up a 20 minute free consult to go over the program.

I was excited to finally get the ball rolling!

Thankfully the consult was free…

During our 20 minute phone call, I told her my goals and she told me her vision - which in no way jived with mine.

I could tell she knows her stuff but… if her vision is not the same as mine… I would be paying her hundreds of dollars just to stress me out.

My gut said, “Don’t do it!”… and I listened.

The instant relief after telling her “No thanks” was proof that I made the right choice.

So what’s a gal to do?…

Maybe my futile attempts to find a Shape Practitioner was the Universe (or whatever unseen force is steering this banana boat) telling me to find another way.

So, I took my knowledge and combined it with more internet research to come up with my own version of clean, anti-inflammatory eating.

Due to a boat-load of food allergies and food sensitivities, any eating plan I follow needs to be modified (sometimes heavily).

For now, I’m calling it my 2026 Reset.

I thought I was already eating good food…

Boy was I wrong!

I started using Kachava in January 2024. I scoured the ingredients list many times to ensure there were no food allergens.

But one itty-bitty ingredient was causing more trouble than I realized.

Kachava contains Luo Han Guo.

Did you know Luo Han Guo is monk fruit?

I didn’t… until about a month ago.

Did you also know I’m allergic to monk fruit?

It doesn’t send me into anaphylaxis but it affects my body in other unpleasant ways.

I haven’t had Kachava for about 4 weeks now…

I’m breathing better and not all stuffed up - probably why I’m also sleeping better.

My joints aren’t as achy and my brain isn’t as foggy. I’m hopeful this will keep improving.

And those spider bites I got the last week in March!?! They’re finally healing - as are other boo-boos that weren’t healing very quickly.

Rather than kick myself for making this mistake, I chalk it up to being human, learned a lesson, and moved on.

Parting thoughts…

Eliminating Kachava (due to food allergies) was only the beginning.

The past couple of weeks, I’ve been focusing on simple foods with simple ingredients, allowing room for guilt-free treats, while reclaiming control of my health.

Looks like the banana boat knew where it was going all along.

I just had to stop paddling against it 🛶

Connie 🌼

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