Day 10/24–Advocare Challenge–End of Cleanse Phase

Well wouldn’t you know it that the last day of the cleanse would fall on Superbowl Sunday?  I admit, I was a little terrified going into the day, knowing the amount of treats I would be surrounded by, but again, the day was a success.  And yeah, thanks to Advocare.  I swear, I’m sounding like a parrot here, but this stuff really works! I either don’t have cravings at all, or if I allow myself a treat, it’s just a bite, or a small amount and I don’t gorge myself like I used to.  Isn’t it a miserable feeling to be so stuffed that you hurt?  Because of how healthy I have been eating, later on my tummy really didn’t like the bites I had.  and I was fairly miserable.  Not from being too full though. To top it all off, we made some chocolate chip cookies that the dough had been purchased from a friend of my hubs…homemade dough…and shhh….don’t tell anyone, but the cookies were just not good.  Prior to Advocare, it wouldn’t have mattered to me.  A chocolate chip cookie is a chocolate chip cookie…fresh out of the oven even!  These were mheh.

All in all, through the cleanse phase of the challenge, I lost a total of 7 pounds.  That’s pretty incredible!

Here are some pictures of a few treats I had.  In addition to what you see here, I had one sip of beer, one sip of ginger ale, and two of those cookies that were bleck.  I guess I ate the second one hoping I had been wrong the first time?  I drank a ton of water during the day and had eaten a healthy breakfast and lunch as well as two servings of Spark.  Oh…and some homemade sweet potato chips that I roasted.  I was quite content and didn’t feel left out of the festivities at all.

Pretend that is a picture of the most delicious dip you have ever tried.  It really isn’t healthy but it is to die for.  It’s our version of the Deschutes's Brewery’s Cascade Ale Dip.  DB is one of our fave spots in Bend, Or.  Here’s the recipe…and I just realized that they changed the name of it to Twilight Summer Ale .Jalapeno Cheese Dip.

Stuffed mushrooms….stuffed with Italian sausage, cream cheese, spices…oh and there’s “some” butter in there too.

Our cat’s are not allowed on the furniture.  Just kidding!  She was about to shove me off the couch and take my spot….AND eat my dip.

Proof that I was parked on my butt for pretty much this reason only….

Days 8 & 9/24 Advocare Challenge

 

Day 8

Day 8 proved to me a little trickier than I would have liked.  I goofed up a bit on my food for the day and I blame it completely on sharks.  I seriously had chocolate calling my name and I gave in…not too horribly, but I caved.  I’ve had worse days where I would cuddle up to a small, Reeses PB cup blizzard and thankfully this wasn’t one of those days.  Progress?  You wanna know what I’m trying to give myself a hard time about?  2/3 of a Russell Stover’s milk chocolate candy bar and two squares of Hershey Bliss chocolate.  Not the end of the world.  The rest of the day was spot on though!

Day 9

Day 9 landed on a Saturday.  I dragged my butt out of bed to get in my last day of Week 4 on the Couch to 5k program I’m going through again.  By the time my workout was finished, I barely had enough time to race around and get myself packed up to be at a volleyball tourney the whole day.  I managed to race out the door without my phone, so I dropped the 13teen off to get warmed up and raced home.  Such a fun age!  I was on a high just from her excitement!  On my way out the door, I got a phone call with a plee for Dutch Bros blended raspberry green tea.  How can you say no?  What I did say no to for myself was a vanilla chai tea.  I tried telling myself I deserved it and that it wouldn’t hurt (And it probably wouldn’t have) but I wanted to save any spare calories for a sweet treat I had up my sleeve.  (Not literally though, wink wink.))

The tournament was exciting and stressful due to my competitive streak.  Yes, the kids need to have fun and that is the ultimate goal.  Right?  Still fun to win!   And win they did, until they had to go up against the A team in their Club.  My 13teen was skilled enough to be on the A team (not just mother pride talking) but God had something else in plan for her.  Now she gets to play every single second on the B team and she is so consistent, so talented, and just amazing.  She is loving all the play time she gets and boy did she give that A team a run for their money!  They almost beat them in the second game.  All the B team parents were on the edge of their seat.  All of those young ladies played their hearts out…such fun!

Oh I mentioned the VBall tourney mainly to explain why a couple of handfuls of mini pretzels found their way into my mouth.  Not all at once…can you imagine?!  Stress eating.  In recovery here!

The rest of the day was very productive…again, totally due to running in the morning, eating healthy and on a schedule (packed my snacks and salad) and taking my Advocare…especially the Spark!  I got home, cleaned the house, helped the hubs with paperwork, changed all the Scentsy pot smellies, helped my 15teen get ready for her winter formal, played taxi cab driver for a total of four teens, AND made that sweet treat that was up my sleeve.  I finally collapsed into bed with a sickie poo husband at 9pm.  I think he was as shocked as I was when he realized I was still awake at 10pm.

And now, I leave you with a few fun pictures.  I said fun, not necessarily GOOD pictures. lol!

I wanted you to see how tall she was compared to my 5’10”……She has ginormous electric blue platform heels on, by the way.

PS The lighting in our home stinks…and all our wall colors, while warm and homey, were not our choice of color.  It’s impossible to find a neutral background with any amount of lighting.  FYI.  Because I’m sure you were wondering.

Days 6 & 7/24 Advocare Challenge

Day 6

Day 6 was sure an opportunity for me to grow.  I had not gotten enough sleep the evening before and was determined to fix that.  It didn’t happen. I woke up at 3:37am and I’m pretty sure I didn’t go back to sleep when my alarm went off at 4:55am.  I hit snooze a couple of times and read some emails on my phone and got out of bed around 5:20.  Plenty of time to still get my run in!  I drank my spark and took my catalyst, but the thought of running put dread inside my tiny little brain.  I struggled with some emotions the rest of the morning while getting ready for work…mostly, I was convinced my day would be super duper bad and I would want to eat anything and everything that wasn’t healthy for me.  Then I put into practice a couple of teaching from church recently and from The Happiness Project….

(picture source)

You need to choose joy.  Yep, I was tired and didn’t get the sleep I wanted, but I still had a choice.  If I chose being crabby, then for sure, my day would stink big britches.

To feel energetic, you need to act energetic.  I’m not saying that I’m going to work out later, but if I keep telling myself, I’m soooo tired, I didn’t sleep well, I’m going to want to eat cruddy foods…..then again, that’s what I would end up doing.

Instead, and while a lot of it is a lie, my brain doesn’t know that…I le[t telling myself I feel great.  I’m doing great.  I’m a healthy eater.  I’m taking it one step at a time.  Sure, I was still tired, but changing my attitude did wonders.  If, at the very least, it it saved me from buying a large bag of Stacy’s pita chips, then the day has been a success!  I had a meeting to go to that forced me to miss my morning snack, and that made me very shaky by lunch, but after refueling, dare I say, there was a pep in my step?

I did successfully make it through the evening though it was pretty hard towards the end to not turn into the biggest McGrumpy Pants in town.  Thankfully, my family was spared from most all of it as I made myself go to bed at 7pm.   By then, I was in tears, because…well that’s what I do…I cry when I’m tired.  I also took some Hyland’s Calm Forte in an effort to keep me asleep the whole night.  Didn’t work completely.  I woke up a couple of times, BUT I went immediately back to sleep.

Day 7

Finally after a decent amount of sleep, I was able to wake up and get my workouts in!!  And not dread the day ahead.  Thursday, I went to another branch to do some training, and this time, I remembered to pack my snack.  Great idea!  I’m really loving that my hunger levels are staying pretty even keel today.  Back to what I’m quickly learning is the norm for taking Advocare products and sleeping well.

Little things that made me happy on Thursday:

A new phone battery to replace my seriously stupid one that wouldn’t recharge the whole way.

A second milk frother to keep at work….to froth my Spark drinks.  These things are amazing for stirring these drinks!   I have a Bodum one at home (Actually, it’s my hubs, and don’t tell him I’ve adopted it.)  The one I got is by: Cuissential at Amazon.  It’s not as nice as the Bodum one, but so far, it’s doing the trick.

 

Days 4 & 5/24 Advocare Challenge

 

Day 4

Monday was awesome!  I easily got up in the morning, had my Spark and my Catalyst and went down to our basement(ish) level to get my workout on.  I started with Jillian Michael’s Body Revolution workout….Workout #3, Week Four.  Thirty minutes later (I LOVE this length) I was done with my strength training/HIIT workout and move on to a thirty minute interval run on the treadmill.  I burned a little over 600 calories!  Great way to start my day!

Izzy really wanted to show you the DVD I was using for the workout.  You’ll just have to pretend that it was workout #3 and not what it says.  What can I say?!  Most mornings, she is like this while I work out…

If I could work out in the dark, she would be happy.  Actually, if I could hand feed her while she slept, she would think she was in heaven.  This cat’s nick name is "Fat Cat” or “Chunky”.  She’s very active too…just very massive.  In the background you can see my treadmill and how it’s sandwiched in between the couch and the fireplace.  The fireplace better NEVER be going when I’m on that treadmill.  Oye I would die.  As it is, I have a huge fan aimed at my back and another small one at my face.

Moving on to more awesomeness, I progressed through the work day and getting home, staying on track.  Oh wait…my hubs surprised me with a lunch date request!One thing I want this Challenge to do for me is to set me up for success for the rest of my life.  You know, “A lifestyle not a diet” way of eating.  So because he’s my hubby and I love him, and because his schedule only allows for him to do this maybe twice every year, I gladly accepted his invite.  We went to a favorite restaurant of ours, “Thai Orchid”, because it was in walking distance and it wasn’t Subway.  We ordered #31 which is chicken with peppers and onions and a sweet chili paste.  I asked them to add broccoli and I helped myself to a half of a cup of brown rice.  Oh, and yeah, I did have two bites of the hubs’ spring roll.  I’m glad I allowed those two bites, and the lunch date even, for that matter.  It reinforced that I can eat healthy, still go out to eat, and indulge a little, but stay on track.  Also, the two bites I had weren’t that amazing and I was confident I wasn’t missing out.

I stayed up until 9:30 which is unheard of for me! 

Day 5

I didn’t pop right out of bed, but I certainly didn’t stay there and skip my workout.  Actually, I was awake at 4:18am and I couldn’t get back to sleep.  What’s up with that?!  Tuesday was Workout #4, Week Four of my JMBR and I was going to do another interval run afterwards.  I got Jillian’s workout completed but talked myself out of the run.  I just didn’t have the energy (or so I told myself) and my legs felt pretty tight. (I should foam roll or use the stick.)  The way my workout schedule is set up, I’ll easily be able to complete my running workouts for the week.

I noticed that I was extra hungry for lunch and dinner than I have been the last four days.  I think it’s a combination of a lack of sleep and my more intense workout.  I got to bed pretty early….which would come in handy for the 3:30am couldn’t go back to sleep episode.

Lunch was delicious, even though it looks like it’s topped with cat food and goop, aka pink salmon and hummus.  It’s awesome, don’t knock it!

Day 2 & 3/24 of Advocare challenge

I have to admit…I was a little scared of the weekend and how I was going to manage with my Advocare challenge and all that I had going on. 

 

DAY 2

Day 2 was Saturday, and I popped out of bed at 5am to get a run in before my 13teen had to go to her volleyball tournament.  If you know tournaments, they are usually all day events.  So I packed my bags with my healthy foods and snacks.  I was tempted a couple of times to dip into the big bag of pretzels, but I realized I was doing it out of habit and nerves.  Those girls have some real skill and the matches get so competitive! 

The day was super productive and I never once had a lag in my energy like I usually get on a weekend.  Keeping my blood sugar stabilized was a good part of that, I’m sure.  The hubs and I had a date night and we went out to dinner.  Our options here in this smaller town are kind of limited, but I ordered to the best of my ability.  Our waitress was super cool in letting me be picky about my order.  I ordered a grilled chicken breast with just the veggies and no oil, butter, or salt.  It really was delicious!  Oh and I did eat one small steak fry with ranch off of my hubs’ plate.  I didn’t feel deprived at all!

DAY 3

Day 3….was a little different…Sunday.  We went to bed rather late on Saturday and I didn’t even sleep all the way to 7am.  I was looking forward to sleeping in too!  So, I was dragging.  We went to Church and afterwards, made our usual stop at Freddies which includes a trip to Peets.  This time, I just got a peppermint tea, no milk or sugar.  I had some issues with energy that day so the Advocare does not make up for a lack of sleep.  Still….it was a better Sunday than I’ve had compared to other ones where you feel like you need a nap or you’re going to die!  Oh and I made some delicious fish for myself for dinner.  It was so yummy that my 15teen said, “That smells sooo good!” (And she wasn’t being sarcastic!) My hubs took a bite and said he would eat it too!

PS I can’t wait to share with you what is happening on the scale!

Now for some really awesome pictures taken by a really awesome photographer!!  Oooh so impressive!

Horrible lighting when I’m trying to show my 13teen that I’m wearing the new neon yellow/greenish sweater she helped me pick out.  I suck at this game!  My date night outfit…I was wearing pants.  Promise.

That’s Izzy.  Inside a bag, in the middle of a Christmas wreath.  I still have decorations waiting to get put away.  And a pot that needs a plant, by the looks of it.  Yeah, I killed what was inside.  My 15teen and I were playing Just Dance 4 on the Wii and well, Izzy was not impressed.

Thanks for viewing my pictures.  I know that’s why you read my blog!

Day 1/24 Advocare Challenge

Or, as I like to call it, “The Day I Survived Without Coffee.”

I started on a Friday, the day after my order arrived.  I know, crazy girl you’re thinking!  I thought I was crazy too because I always start things on a Monday.  Or at the beginning of a month.  Or the year.  Never, and I repeat NEVER on a Friday!  The lure of increased energy propelled me forward.

I was worried I might get hungry and the food I ate wouldn’t hold me over.  I was wrong.  I only got hungry right before lunch and then right before dinner.  Not the kind of hunger that usually makes me go crazy and reach for a cupcake though.

Because I started so quickly, and because the hubs and I have been sharing one vehicle for the last two weeks, I wasn’t too prepared and prepped so I hit up Subway for a salad for lunch.  I added my own tuna on top.  I’m going to try not to have to do that again.  It wasn’t bad and it wasn’t great.

I was worried about the afternoon and that I might get cranky and feel tired and again, the need to reach for a cupcake….or another unhealthy snack that abounds in the workplace. I was wrong on that too.

In the evening, right before bed, I wanted something sweet.  I’m pretty sure it’s out of habit though I recall feeling maybe a little hungry?  So I made myself a bowl of berries with a half a cup of almond milk.  It hit the spot!

Day 1 was a success!

Why Advocare for me?

I had been hearing about Advocare from different bloggers and real live people that I know and even work with.  I saw with my own eyes some really great results.  BUT, I dragged my feet.  I thought that I wanted to do it on my own, without taking any supplements and just eating healthy foods and exercising.  Here’s the silly thing though, I WAS using a meal replacement protein shake that I got at my local GNC.  I was also spending oodles a month on vitamins, trying to do the research, and trying to make sure I was taking what I was supposed to be taking to be healthy.  I firmly believe that we need to be taking vitamins to support our bodies and that in today’s age, it is extremely hard to get that from an even perfect, organic lifestyle.  Who has time or energy to be perfect?

Let me back track too and I’ll do that with a quick snapshot of my life in terms of weight loss/working out.

• 2001 I got serious about losing weight that I put on after having two babies
• I quickly lost 70 pounds on Weight Watchers and just walking
• I went up and down without about 10-20 pounds for years
• Got serious about losing those last “whatever” pounds in 2007 – started running and lifting weights and using Herbalife
• 2008 I got to what was my goal weight of 155 for my 5’10'” frame
• That marked a 100 pound weight loss from my known highest weight!
• From 2008 to today, lots of stuff changed.  Marriage, blended family, a move, a new job, three marathons completed….I gained 30 pounds and have been stuck with my weight.

Okey doke…so I kept going back to the question of, “How did I make it work back in 2008?  I was strength training….and, ding ding, I was using Herbalife products.  I weaned myself off of the stuff because I learned about the dangers of soy…and their protein was soy based then.  (Not sure if it still is?)  I also started replacing the supplements with stuff I could buy locally or find on the internet that was cheaper.  Not very convenient or easy though, and now you all know that I put 30 pounds back on.

Enter Advocare!  I told you that I had heard about this company but I didn’t give it much thought.  Until one day last week, I said, why not?  I could really use the ease and simplicity of being told what to take and what to eat.  I could really use the extra energy.  And I could really use the motivation that I got, knowing that I’ve seen results, so why couldn’t I have those results for myself?  It has to work for me then too!

As I write this, I’m on day three of the 24 day challenge.  It’s a 10 day cleanse phase (I’m eating real food and still able to exercise! And not stuck in the bathroom either, FYI) followed by two weeks of uh…I’m not sure as I haven’t gotten that far yet.  All I can say is that I’m amazed that I already have this much energy.  No jitters either…let me just nip that one in the bud.  If you know me, then you know I don’t survive without two strong, black, cups of coffee a day.  Day three of no coffee for me and I’m alive and happy!

Follow along on my challenge.  See what you think?  If you’re wondering what Advocare is…click here.  Don’t think I’m out to sell you anything.  I signed up for the discount and free stuff that came with it.  Just watch me and see what happens if you’re curious.  I’m pretty sure you’re going to get jealous though. heehee!