Day 18

I can't believe that today is day 18 of AdvoCare's 24 day challenge and I say that because it really doesn't feel like it's been that long, and......I'm not sitting on pins and needles waiting on a cheat day!!!  It's a wonderful feeling knowing I can control myself and what I eat.  I've been able to focus more, my mood through out the day is so much better even when things aren't going great around me I am still able to stay positive, and I've been able to start exercising again.  As I've mentioned before the weight loss is happening slowly but it IS happening.  I think that part is more of a mental struggle than anything.  We all have to remember that we didn't put this weight on overnight so it's not going to come off overnight.  My husband and I were talking the other morning and he mentioned that if it weren't for the way he felt on the program he probably would have already quit.  Mostly because we always want things to happen so quickly.  We want the weight to come off quick but it's something we have to work hard for or we will never keep it off.  It's like the teenager who's parents actually make them work for their first vehicle instead of running out and buying it for them.  They've had to work hard to earn it so they usually baby it and take good care of it.  We'll when you have to learn to eat nutritious and live a healthy life and lose the weight the proper way, once you've finally lost it you're the one that's really going to keep it off this time because you've learned to control your cravings and how to eat healthy and make the right choices.  Where the person who does the 500 calorie, starve yourself diets are more than likely going to jump right back into their old habits and gain most or all of their weight back and possibly more.  My husband and I both wake up feeling better in the mornings and he's back to hopping out of bed when the alarm goes off the way he used to instead of dragging himself out of bed just because he has to.  He's working out again and I'm back to walking in the mornings too!  That's not something you do willingly even when you are dieting unless the program you are doing makes you feel good and AdvoCare does.  When you are able to wake up in the mornings in a good mood because you feel good it's easier to convince yourself that the walk or that work out is just going to help you even more!  I see the positive affects it has on my husbands moods daily and my own as well.  I can discipline one kid and not end up yelling at all of them! and people at work can be in their terrible moods they are always in and I am able to stay uplifted and happy because I feel better and not let them affect me the way they use to.  It's amazing the way things you eat and drink affect everything about your day and the way you handle people & situations in your life. 

Day 14 of the 24 day challenge

I cannot believe I made it thru another weekend without even thinking twice about a Whataburger or Braum's run.  We went grocery shopping yesterday and although we joked about the foods we used to buy I don't think either one of us was really tempted by anything.  We are both doing great and when I mentioned the opportunity to Roy to cheat a little if he felt the need at Tanner's upcoming birthday party on Aug. 13th he said he didn't even think he would then.  That will be a test for both of us since that's another month away and the food will be right in front of us.  We'll see how we do, and everyone has to remember it doesn't hurt on occasion to step out and enjoy.  That's why AdvoCare has the CarbEase product so you can on special occasions and it does not mess up everything you've done.  We just can't make it a weekend venture which I don't think either of us will want to do.  From what I've been told by others the food wont taste anything like what we imagine it to taste.  Anyway, I'm just amazed by how this product changes my cravings, and makes me feel so much better.  I love not feeling like I can't control myself and when I do want something to snack on it's a healthy snack and not a blizzard or some junk like that!!  Can you say....."awesome!"

DAY 10.....already??!!!

Wow!  I can't believe I've really been on this cleanse, diet, lifestyle change, whatever you want to call it for 10 day's and I haven't thought once about cheating.....seriously!!  There is something wonderful about this that has changed the way my body & my mind think & crave foods.  On most diets I struggle to get thru the first week and can't WAIT till the 2nd week is over and if I've made it that far I feel it's time to reward myself and cheat.  Well, as most people know that cheat meal ends up turning into a cheat day or a cheat weekend and you've just screwed up everything you've worked so hard for in the last two weeks.  This 10 day cleanse has helped my body stop craving all the fatty foods I used to HAVE to have!  I would go to the grocery store and the candy, chips, and snacks, etc would drive me crazy.  I went yesterday to pick up our 2nd case of water for the week and it was only Wednesday (our family has never gone thru that much water) and I didn't take a second look at any of those foods.  It seemed natural for me to be buying the produce, and other healthy foods I had in my basket versus the prepackaged, fattening, unhealthy foods we all used to eat.  I know I need to try to expand our menu of the foods I cook just because I'm not used to cooking foods this way but I'm excited about that.  Like I said before, the most rewarding part of this is knowing I'm not only helping myself but helping my family!!  It doesn't hurt that I've lost 12lbs in these 10 days and I'm already down one pant size.  I took out a pair of pants this morning that I haven't worn in months because I refuse to be one of those women that lay down on the bed to zip up their pants and guess what.......they fit (and I was standing up) lol!!!  Looking forward to a great weekend with my guys because I know I am feeling happier and more energetic every day and we will have a great time no matter what we are doing!!

Day 9

It's been a few days without updates but everything is still going great.  I'm waking up every morning in a great mood and staying focused better throughout my day.  I don't feel sluggish after 3pm anymore and my clothes are fitting much better!!!  I wish I could speed up the process but that's normal for people wanting to lose weight, that's just an emotional thing.  I know mentally and for my health it's best for me to lose it gradually and learn just like I'm doing how to eat healthy so that I don't end up gaining back what ever I lose plus more.  I've done that so many times in the past.  Most importantly, I'm proud as a wife and mother that AdvoCare is helping my family!  My husband is doing great on it and it seems to even be curbing his cravings for his tobacco which is awesome so not only are we saving money on our grocery bills, and fast food restaurants, but he's not spending as much on that either and if he's able to stop the tobacco we'll save a lot of money in that alone as well!  Overall, health wise I just don't see where we can go wrong with AdvoCare.  It's safe for all of us and I'm comfortable with even my 4 year using the product.  I haven't seen results like this as far as affecting the foods I crave with any other diet plan I've tried.  I'm so excited about the moving forward in this and see what else is to come!  Thank you Lorraine for introducing me to AdvoCare!!

Day 5 .....the beginning

I know it's only morning or really by now mid day but I'm sharing already because I'm happy to say I feel like me again!  Yes I took my 'stupid' pills last night out of necessity (at least temporarily) but....I woke up this morning in a very pleasant mood which has not been the norm for several months and even though I'm pushing thru the neck pain I can still do so with a smile on my face and feel a perk in my step and I feel like that's because I'm feeling healthier every day.  I don't feel as moody today as I have been in weeks past and I hope that each day continues to get better.  Weight loss as of this morning is at 9lbs which is a lot for 5 days so that may begin to slow down some but remember I had a stomach bug for a few days which accounts for some of it but not all.  I don't want to lose the weight too fast because I know from previous personal history that it just ends up coming right back + more.  I'm committed to this for life to make myself and my family healthy!  I'm just excited to feel like myself again and not so sluggish and moody!!  It was actually not so bad waking up this morning :)

Day 4

Okay, It's only day 4 of this challenge and I'm a very skeptical person but I must say I am feeling very positive!!  I woke up this morning even after having the stomach bug for at least 24 hrs and felt refreshed and ready to go for the first time in a long time.  I truly feel that was because I continued my liquids (AdvoCare Spark & Meal Replacement Shakes).  There was no way with the nausea I had that I could eat solids so normally I would have turned to water and crackers to put something on my stomach.  I must say when I was at my worst that is all I really could do, but on day two when I could ease in to other fluids I started drinking my Spark again and easing into the shakes slowly.  I feel like they helped my body get the vitamins & nutrients and therefore my strength back that I had lost and made me feel so much better on day 3 than I normally would have.  My neck pain was still there and pretty bad but that's another battle in itself, but after staying up till after midnight last night working and forgetting to take my normal prescription meds that I usually have to have to sleep and to prevent constant headaches I have felt great all day minus the constant neck pain.  Those that know me well know that story and know why AdvoCare may have little ability to relieve that pain but God only knows.  We will continue to stay in prayer for God to work his miracles in that area and if he chooses to help me find relief thru AdvoCare then even better!  I can't believe it's 930pm and I'm still awake and functioning properly.  I've usually had to take what my husband has now begun calling my "stupid pills" because they make me so forgetful and really just plain stupid and by now I'd be a zombie.  I'm actually sitting up and participating in normal family life!  Loving it!! My food cravings are still under control and for me that's a giant achievement in itself.  I'm not even wanting that late night giant snack!  Yeah sure, anybody could talk themselves into anything, but this stuff is really helping me control myself and it's not requiring me to take more prescription drugs, or do drastic surgery, and I'm learning to eat healthy and what supplements I am using are all natural and good for me!!

Day 2 & 3 of 24 day challenge

Okay, so yesterday was day 2 and not the best day, but don't let that be discouraging to you because it was not due to the AdvoCare.  It was actually unfortunate timing....I was hit with a stomach bug that was terrible and I'm still fighting it today.  My friend and I both had the unfortunate luck of traveling to Dallas and back on what we thought was going to be a fun day together that turned out to be a quiet & torturous time of "can't wait to get home!"  Still I managed to stay on the program, pretty easy actually when you feel like you can't eat or drink anything!  and now I've begun day 3 slowly sipping my Spark and meal replacement shake and appear to be gradually picking back up as the day goes on.  I did lose 7 lbs yesterday!  Not really the way I want to lose weight but hey, that's the only positive thing to the misery I went thru.  One thing I can tell you about these first 3 days is I really haven't had cravings like I normally do on diet programs and I know I shouldn't call this a diet program because the focus is more supposed to be the nutritional values you gain.  I've very easily stepped into to the first few days of this challenge without any mental frustrations.  My husband has had some Coke withdrawals because he loves his Cherry Coke but I'm not sure if that's easing up or not.  Since I was sick yesterday we haven't talked much so I'll update you on that later.  My coffee withdrawals haven't been that bad though.  I thought they would be much worse.  I've always been pretty good about drinking water where he hasn't so that is a new concept for him and I'm proud of him for being willing to add the water and remove the Coke.  At least for the 24 days!  We'll see what happens afterwards!  I've also purchased another product to try in conjuction with this called Joint ProMotion that I'm hoping will help with inflammation issues I'm having and pains in my knees and joints so I'll keep you posted on that as well.  I won't start taking that for a few days.  I think I'll wait till my stomach is back to normal.  More to come....be sure to check back in!