Advocare-Day 8

Back to the fiber muffin!

So far, I have not lost a lot of pounds but I have lost inches.  I will post those on day 10.  But, while on this journey I have learned lots of little lessons.  I have also learned to try new recipes.  I LOVE egg salad sandwiches.  But while on the cleanse you cannot have bread so I had to adapt.  I put it in a lettuce wrap.  I think I LOVE them even more now.  I made ice cream out of fruit last night.  And I enjoyed it.  So, all of that to say TRY SOMETHING NEW!  Somewhere out there someone once told me that your taste buds change every 7 years.  I hated brussel sprouts, now I eat them 2-3 times a week. 

fiber muffins-2
strawberry avocado spinach salad
fruit bowl (strawberries, cantaloupe, honeydew, grapes, pineapple)
sunflower seeds
pistachios
spinach salad with strawberries, blackberries, and grapes
hard boiled egg
brussel sprouts

Advocare-Day 7

Here is what I ate:
Meal replacement shake
ground turkey and brown rice in lettuce
Chicken breast
Strawberry avocado spinach salad (see recipes)
one ingredient ice cream (see recipes)

A little discouraged today.  I weighed and I GAINED a pound.  We shall see in the end.

Advocare-Day 6

I didn't post yesterday.  It was just one of those days!  It wasn't the best eating day for me.  I cheated a  little, but in hind sight what I didn't eat was impressive. 

I started my morning off by taking the GRE.  I made sure to take my Spark for mental focus.  I took the Jeep to get fixed, walked home about .5 miles, cleaned, and then went to a BBQ.  Eating was going so well until then.  But, like I said what I didn't eat or drink was impressive.  I passed up baked beans, hot dogs, ranch dip, alcohol, and probably most impressive coffee milkshake made with blue bell ice cream, Jameson, Baileys, and other yummy stuff.  Here is what I did eat yesterday:

Spark
3 hard boiled eggs
pineapples
2 peppermints for test
chicken salad on celery
olives
grapefruit
braut no bun
brussel sprouts
chicken leg with BBQ sauce :(
5 deviled eggs :(
random veggies with no dip :)

Weight:162

Advocare-Day 5

What I learned today:  Water makes you feel full!

Today, we took our wonderful 4th graders to Austin.  We left Pasadena at 6:45am and arrived in Dallas at 10:00.  We toured the visitors center, then the capitol, ate lunch, and then went to the museum.We got back on the bus and left Austin back to Pasadena where we arrived at 6:45pm.  Twelves hours EXACTLY!  I had already come to terms with I wasn't going to be able to drink all of my water today.  There was too much travel time without a bathroom.  But I had NO IDEA how much the water I drink helps fill me up! Here is my menu for today:

Meal Replacement Shake
bell peppers
celery
chicken salad
grapes
apple
salad from subway with veggies and turkey and Greek salad dressing(cheated a little there)
pineapple

Water-40 oz
weight-162
I will post some measurements on day 10

The past 4 days I have NOT been hungry.  On our way home today I was hungry.  There was so many choices.  I could have had combos, snack mix, chips, skittles, pretzels, and list goes on and on.  But I knew we were getting close to home so I waited. 

On a different note...we need to do something about our youth.  They have no clue about healthy eating.  Now, I know today was kind of a special day.  But let me tell you what I saw not just today but most days. 

Chips-instead of buying the individual bag or dividing out into baggies, parents are giving them a whole bag of chips.  And then they return to school the next day with a new bag.  Drives me crazy!
Sodas-so many kids today had a 1/2 liter of coke today.  PLUS other sugary drinks. 
Candy and snacks- too many to name.  Again, I know not everyone is going to bring celery to school.  Heck, it was hard enough for me to that today! But, I think parents need to start teaching their children about nutrition.  I may have to think of an assignment to do in the computer lab. 

Advocare-Day 4

What a bad day!  And it started so early too!  There was running, hitting, scratching, biting, chair flipping, and more running all before 8:00 AM. If there was ever a time I wanted to "stress eat" it was this morning.  I wanted the coffee I smelled, the cheese toast in the office, even the stupid jellybeans in the jar that I pass all day long.  I went to my classroom, calmed down, and drank some water. 

This evening on my way home Matthew called and asked what we were having for dinner.  I told him chicken and vegetables.  He said it sounded too healthy, he wanted pizza.  I had no desire to cook and I thought, "Maybe not pizza, but I could do subway."  I had marinated chicken and veggies.   Matthew had marinated chicken stuffed with bacon and pepper jack cheese.   The point is, you have to consistently have to make decisions.  Stress eat or Stop, take a deep breath, and relax? Pizza or chicken and veggies?  Bacon or no bacon?  Sometimes it is harder than other times (I couldn't resist the bacon).  But you have to do it for your self. 

Today's menu:
Meal replacement shake
hard boiled egg
ground turkey stuffed bell pepper (leftover)
cucumbers
grapes
apple
marinated chicken
bacon-2 slices
asparagus
salad with raspberry vinaigrette
10 pistachios

water-120 oz
weight-162

Tomorrow is going to be a challenge.  We are going on a field trip to Austin all day.  Most go and start thinking of what I can bring. 

Advocare-Day 3

Day 3

If a tree falls in the woods and there is no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?

If you pick up a piece of chocolate and there is no one there to see it, can you eat it?

We have a screen printing business (for now) and there was a shirt debacle this evening.  Long story short I had to run to Walmart to get a shirt.  I know this sounds ridiculous, but do you know how much food is there.  PLUS, there is a McDonald's inside.  I have a very well kept secret...I LOVE their hot fudge sundaes with nuts, $1.19 with tax.  It  has been easier to do the 24 day challenge with the great group of girls I work with at school.  They are always around and they are consistently looking and asking what you are eating.  No hiding from them.  But now, now I am alone.  No one to see me.  I have decided to skip the sundae.  But there is so much more.  I walked past the bakery and the snack aisle over to get the shirt.  I focused on the shirt.  I was good.  I just needed to go and pay and get the heck out of dodge.

Today's menu:
Fiber muffin-1.5
hard boiled egg-1
black olives-20
Buffalo wing turkey burger-1
bowl of strawberries, blackberries, and grapes
muffin by Tammy(recipe to come later)
Ground Turkey Stuffed Bell Peppers
salad with raspberry pecan dressing

water-120 oz
weight-164

I didn't eat anything from Walmart!!!

Advocare-Day 2

Day 2

I ALMOST ATE A COOKIE!!!! 

It was in my hand and I was talking.  I had no idea how it got there.  I was talking and not paying attention and it almost touched my lips.  I know that if it had actually touched my lips I would have eaten that oh-so-delicious cookie...Darn those girl scouts!!!! 

It would not have been the end of the world had I eaten the cookie, but what I think I am having to do is retrain my brain.  That's all, retrain my brain!  Just because there is food sitting out or hidden in an emergency shoe box in the nurse's office, I don't need to go and eat it.  I do it without thinking.  I am not hungry.

Today was similar to yesterday. It has been easier at dinner because Matthew has had to work the past two nights.  The next three days will be the test.  But, back to today!

2 fiber muffins
buffalo wing turkey burger
salad
blackberries
cucumbers
strawberries
10 pistachios
grilled chicken with Frank's wrapped in lettuce
sweet peas

Water-120 oz.
Weight-165

Advocare-Day 1

Day 1

So, I have completely stressed myself out. 

I hate drinking the fiber drink, but I can do it.  I found a recipe that mixes the fiber packet  into a muffin recipe. SO MUCH EASIER TO EAT!!!  And it made me really full. There is nothing I can do about it now...just keep on.  Here is how my day went.

5:30 am-2 fiber muffins and Spark and 24 oz of water before I left
8:00 am-1 hard boiled egg
10:30 am-1 cup of cucumbers
11:30-chicken salad lettuce wraps and grapes
           Chicken salad-canned chicken with 1 TSP OLIVE OIL mayo, relish, 1/2 of hard boiled egg,
            a few grapes.  Spoon this into romaine lettuce.
2:00-1 1/2 hard boiled eggs
4:00- 1 apple
5:30- chicken on salad with Frank's Red Hot Sauce, broccoli and cauliflower.

I have felt FULL all day.  Looking at this I might have had a little too much protein and not enough fruits and veggies.

Water-about 100 oz 

Starting weight-165

Here is the muffin recipe if you cannot do the drink:

Fiber Muffin Recipe

If you absolutely cannot do the fiber drink

6 packages Fiber
1 3/4 cup Whole Wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Dash of nutmeg
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
Mix dry ingredients together.
ADD:
1/3 cup honey
1 cup applesauce- the kind without sugar added
2 egg whites
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup soy milk- can substitute milk
Stir this into the dry ingredients and blend together.
FOLD IN 1 large chopped apple. Spoon into muffin tin sprayed with non-stick spray. This makes 12 muffins, and you may pile the batter up as they do not raise much.
Bake at 350 for about 20-30 minutes.
Cool muffins.
Place 6 muffins in bag and freeze for the last 3 days of your Herbal Cleanse.
Eat 2 muffins a day for the first three days and 2 muffins a day for the last 3 days.

24 Day Challenge

So, I have been selling and using Advocare products for almost a year.  Nothing major, mainly the Spark!  I, with a few of my crazy wonderful friends and co-workers, have decided to take the challenge...the 24 day challenge.  We were going to start in January, but decided we needed to get back into the swing of things at work.  Then February, well it was Valentine's Day. March...ummmm, Spring Break.  We are teachers and deserved Spring Break! So here it is April Fool's Day.  I thought about telling them all April Fool's and that I wasn't going to start until May, but thought for my own safety I shouldn't do that.  I am going to do me best to blog about this experience for a couple of reasons. 

1. I have some friends and family members that are very skeptical about the challenge. So for them, I want to show them that it can be done!
2.  Even if there is only 1 person reading this then it might hold me accountable for what I am eating!!!  I am using it as my food diary.
3.  I would love to help people as they are ready.  I have lost over 50 pounds, but I had to do it when I was ready (See my Boring All About Me story). The picture is shortly after my "moment" and Easter 2012. 

Boring All About Me

Maybe I should tell you a little about me and my story.  If you don't care skip ahead.  It won't hurt my feelings, heck I will never know. 

This is kind of a boring story.  I had a good childhood.  Yes, my parents are divorced and mom and I moved a couple of times, but I had great friends and family.  I went to college and gained the freshman 15 plus another 15-20 the other 4 years I was there (Yes, it took me 5 years to graduate and I enjoyed every minute of it!) After I left Stephen F. Austin I got my first "real" job.  I had money, well kind of and I was tired!  Working 8-10 hours a day took a lot of me.  I mean, where was my nap?  I missed watching my favorite soap and then napping.  The money and living by myself contributed to my new fast food addiction.  I didn't want to cook for just one person.  Time went on and and so did my weight. My family and friends saying,"Maybe we should try this diet." irritated the crap out of me.  I took as a personal insult.  They were trying to be helpful, but I thought I was fine (you tend to not look in the mirror or just look at your face).

People have always told me there was THAT moment.  You know, the one where you realize you are a fat@#*.  I had chaperoned a couple of drill team girls to a dream location...Hawaii with HTE! We took the girls "hiking" up Diamond Head.  First of all, who goes hiking in Hawaii.  Second, this was NOT a hike. Here is what http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/oahu/diamond-head/ says:

The 0.7-mile hike up Diamond Head is considered a moderate climb.

It’ll take about an hour to reach the summit, and half that time for the return. The trail climbs the inside slope of Diamond Head for about 0.6 miles. It’s a switchback trail with the mountain on one side and a railing on the other. After a lookout point that doubles as a rest stop, the trail takes a steep upward ascent through a series of stairs and tunnels. The last set of stairs is a 99-step climb—just take it slow and steady—that eventually leads to a World War II bunker. From there, the stairs reach an end and you step up to some of the finest panoramic views on Oahu. Take a short walk around and savor the moment. On a clear day, you see forever. Standing atop the lookout, viewing Oahu’s entire leeward side, feeling the trade winds and hearing waves crashing far below, one can’t help but feel humbled to be on this glorious island.

A MODERATE climb.  They have lost their minds.  I made it, but those last 99 steps almost killed me. 

Side note: Thank you Mr. Jeffery for "coaching" me through it.  You never knew how much you and HTE meant to me!  Thank you!

Once I was up there I saw the most beautiful place that God had created.  As I stood there, winded, looking out to the ocean, I thought, "I almost missed this because I couldn't make it up the stairs." That was my first moment.  I started eating better and lost about 30 pounds.

My second moment came when Matthew and I went to Colorado.  We went to the mountains with my dad and step-mom (I need to do a study on my self between the correlation of me and mountains).  Matthew is like a little kid.  He wants to jump off of and climb everything.  We drove the the "top" of the mountain.  You could park your car and go look around.  Matthew found a trail that would take you a mile above sea level and said, "Let's go!"  Before I could say anything we were off.  Again, I made, but I was huffing and puffing.  I thought I was in so much better shape since Hawaii.  And that is when the next phase of my life of eating healthy and exercising began. 

So here I am 50 pounds lighter, but I still have more to go.  It will be a big climb, but I am sure I can get to the top!!!