Advocare 24 Day Challenge: Day 5, 6, & 7

I've decided to blog my weekend posts (Friday-Sunday) as one post in order to be able to spend more time with my family. The weekend posts may be a bit less detailed since it will include 3 days of information.

Weekends are always hardest for me when I'm watching what I eat (which is always now) mainly because we are out an about running errands or taking the kids somewhere and there are always get togethers, birthdays, other special events... This weekend alone we had two birthday parties and my husband was baptized this morning at church so we ate out for lunch for that occasion.

So here is how my weekend (Day 5, 6, and 7) went:

DAY 5

Woke up and drank my Spark and took my catalyst and my probiotics. Grabbed a banana on the way out of the door to boot camp because I was running late. Bananas are my go to when I don't have a lot of time. They really seem to get me through a short time when I can't seem to get a meal together.

Boot camp was awesome as usual. I was a bit sore from all the walking I had done last week but I pushed through it and it felt awesome.

Came home and made a very delicious breakfast. I have been craving breakfast food you don't normally associate with healthy - you know, the stuff your mom used to make you on Saturday morning! So I made a healthy version of French Toast and it was AH-MAZ-ING! It has a few ingredients (Ezekial Bread and Flaxseed) that aren't really things you think about buying but do it! SO worth it. I'm making it for the family tomorrow before they leave for work and school. Finished my first 25 oz of water.

Breakfast: 420 Calories
Spark - 45 calories
Banana - 110 calories
French toast with Berries - 265 (Recipe on my blog!)

For lunch I had the same sandwich (Turkey) I've been having mainly because I just need to eat it up before it goes bad.

Lunch: 420 calories
Turkey sandwich with Munster cheese on whole wheat sugar free bread: 320 calories
Red peppers with roasted red pepper hummus: 100 calories

We had some left over steak from the start of the week so for dinner I made fajitas. I will post my fajita recipe soon when I make it with meat that I usually do (I usually use flank steak) and can accurately add up the calories. Finished my 2nd 25 oz of water.

Dinner: 555 Calories
Steak Fajitas with veggies - 470 calories
1/2 Cup brown rice - 85 Calories

Later that night I did have a cup of strawberries on a caramel corn rice cake and a bit of whip cream which was about 100-120 calories.

Finished up my last 25 oz of water taking my herbal cleanse and my omegaplex.

TOTAL CALORIC INTAKE: 1,515 CALORIES

My daily goal is 1,420 so I was over a bit which isn't a big deal considering I had bootcamp in the morning.

Not a bad day at all!

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DAY 6

Saturday morning we had the color run so we were up fairly early trying to get everyone ready. We originally had not planned to bring the kids but we ended up with them which I'm actually really glad we did! They had a lot of fun!

In the morning I made a spark and a meal replacement shake because I didn't have time to fix breakfast and I wanted something I could eat in the car. Took my probiotic and catalyst.

Breakfast: 265 Calories
Advocare Meal Replacement Shake - 220 Calories
Spark - 45 Calories

Made it to the color run and I actually ran the whole race. I wasn't sure I could do it. It's been a really long time since I've run that far and I did it, pushing both kids. I'm glad I did because now I know I can.

 

 

As much as I hate running - running the color run has inspired me to make an effort to run instead of walk once a week. Couldn't hurt. I may actually learn to enjoy it... or not. :)

 

Matt and the kids ate at chick-fila on the way home (Matt later on said he did not enjoy it as much as he thought he would!) I withheld and when I got home I fixed myself a healthy lunch that made me feel awesome. The steamed edemame is a great source of protein! Finished first 25oz of water.

Lunch: 540 Calories
Turkey Sandwich with munster cheese on sugar free whole wheat: 320 Calories
Steamed edemame: 110 Calories

That evening we had plans to go to a friends house for a get together. Get together are hard for me because I watch everyone else eating for pleasure and I have to do my best to make good choices so I don't regret it later. We were asked to pick up the pizzas for the party so when we did we stopped by Dominos and ordered one of their gluten free crusts to avoid the white flour that hurts my stomach now. We ordered the chicken spinach feta. It was awesome... did not taste any different than a normal crust pizza! At the party they had salad and I brought my own dressing, fruit salad, and chips, dip and cake. (SO HARD!!!) I did have a few chips lightly dipped in dip and I had a sliver of cake since I've heard wonderful things about the woman who makes these cakes. It wasn't much - not enough to make me feel gross. I told myself I wasn't going to cheat at all on the cleanse, however, socially sometimes you have to. The need to feel normal. Thank goodness all of my friends are health conscious and understand why I'm eating the way I do. Drank 2nd and 3rd round of 25oz of water at party. Took my omegaplex and herbal cleanse when I got home.

Dinner: 618 Calories
1/2 of a 10" Gluten Free Chicken Feta Spinach Pizza: 435 Calories
Spinach Salad with Ginger Dressing: 73 Calories
1 Cup of fruit salad: 110 Calories

Snacks at the party:
Chips and dip: 270 calories
Cake: 115 Calories

TOTAL CALORIC INTAKE: 1,800 CALORIES

Even though this was high, it will still within what I would be allowed to eat. I have a 1,420 calorie goal but I also ran 3 miles which would burn about 300 calories. 1,420 plus 300 burned is 1,720. So I was about 80 over my total goal. But you also have to remember my goal is 1,420 to lose. Infact, I would still lose, just slowly, on how I ate today! Remember this when you are beating yourself by eating over your goal a bit.

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DAY 7

Today was also challenging because we had plans to eat out and had a birthday party to attend. I also did used today as a rest day (first one in 7 days!)

This morning I took my probiotic and my catalyst and once again chose a protein shake for time sakes. Matt was baptized today at church (HOORAY!) and we had to be there earlier than normal. I skipped the spark this morning.

Breakfast:
Advocare Meal Replacement Shake: 220 Calories

After church we headed over to Abuelos with my parents which is my favorite Mexican restaurant. I skipped the chips and had a hard time choosing off the menu as they don't list their nutritional information online. I'm not usually one to go for soup, however I found a calorie listed for the soup and figured I would make up the calories at dinner. Finished first 25 oz of water.

Lunch:
Bowl of tortilla soup: 250 Calories

Following lunch we had to immediately head to a birthday party for Evie's school friend. LOTS of great looking food! Pizza, homemade snacks, cupcakes, chips! Before "this life" I would have loaded up a plate and not thought twice. I didn't completely deprive myself. I had some fruit and if there was something I wanted to try, I allowed it - but only one piece of that thing. Finished 2nd 25oz of water.

Snacks:
Various - I estimated that I probably ate 300 Calories.

Dinner time was easy. We made quesadillas.

Dinner:
Chicken quesadilla on whole wheat with veggies and low fat cheese - 346 Calories
1 tbsp light sour cream - 20 Calories

TOTAL CALORIC INTAKE: 1,136 CALORIES... however I do plan on having a light snack (probably fruit) before bed so it will probably be closer to 1,350. And I will be taking my omegaplex and herbal cleanse with my last 25oz of water.

SO while I didn't stick to the cleanse 100% I still feel really good here at the end of the weekend. I've enjoyed spending time with my friends and family as well as sticking to my diet for most of the time. Seeing as though before I would have just eaten whatever I wanted, this is still MUCH better than how I ate before.

I know this post was much less detailed but spending time with the kids this weekend has been so great! Thank you for understanding!

This week will be super interesting as we have plans to go out of town on Thursday... so we will see how that will work out with eating well!

Advocare 24 Day Challenge: Day 3

Today was BEUTIFUL!!! 80 some degrees. Full sunshine! LOVE!!! Today marks 2 months since I began my life changing journey to become healthier! I posted earlier about taking photos before you start your challenge. Here is why....

 

You really see results. I even look tired and worn down. I was. I had let myself go! Never again.

Here is how I recommend taking photos - full body.. front, back, and both sides. Weigh and measure!

Can't wait to see a difference in 24 days!!

Here is how Day 3 went....

8am: Woke up and drank the Spark my husband brought to me. :)

8:45: After my shower I fixed breakfast and drank my fiber/OJ and took my catalyst. I love oatmeal so once or twice a week I allow myself maple and brown sugar oatmeal for breakfast. Oatmeal is allowed on the challenge and while it would be best to eat plain oatmeal and add some honey to sweeten, I love my instant oatmeal and it hasn't affected my healthy eating so I go ahead and have it. I mix in almond milk which my daughter drinks since regular milk upsets her tummy. I haven't tried drinking almond milk but I love it in my oatmeal!

Breakfast Breakdown: 387 Calories
Spark - 45 Calories
Fiber mixed with Trop 50 OJ - 95 calories
Pack of Maple and Brown Sugar instant oatmeal - 160 calories
3/4 cup Light Almond Milk - 30 calories
2 hardboiled egg whites - 34 calories
1/2 cup of strawberries - 23


9:30am: BOOTCAMP!! We had boot camp outside which was great! Combination of running and strength training. I was actually the last one to finish which stinks - until I remember - I'm still better off than if I had not done it at all! Stone had a great time running around outside playing with kids and watching trucks! Finished my 1st 25 ounces of water.

11:30am: Lunch... I opted out of a bread during lunch since I planned rice for dinner. I took lunch meat and wrapped a slice of cheese in it. Dipped it in my hummus although it would have been great dipped in mustard too. It was a very filling lunch!

Lunch Breakdown: 398 Calories
4oz of Boars Head Honey Maple Turkey - 140 calories
1 slice of Private Select Munster Cheese - 80 calories
1/2 sliced red pepper - 23 calories
2tbsp Sabra Roasted Red Pepper Hummus - 70 calories
14 roasted salted almonds- 85 calories

12noon: Ran errands. Finished second 25oz of water.

5:30pm: Dinner. We tried a new dish and it was excellent. It's a combination of typical Mediterranean seasonings on chicken skewers. Yum! We also had some brown rice. Kids ate it! Love that warm weather means we get to fire up the grill!

Dinner Breakdown: 516 Calories
Mediterranean Chicken Skewers with Veggies and Feta -  431 calories (Recipe: http://tinyurl.com/mo2p6fu)
1/2 Cup brown rice - 85 calories

6:30pm: Played outside with the kids. Can't keep them in on a day like this!

These kids love to swing!

Charlie loves running around the yard with the family! He's an awesome dog!

I cleaned up some grapes for the kids to eat outside and enjoyed 1/2 a cup of grapes as a snack myself (31 calories).

7:30pm: Took my herbal cleanse and my Omegaplex.

Matt and I are getting ready to sit down and watch a movie from Redbox. I'm having another snack during the movie. A banana (105 calories) for when I feel munchy while watching the movie. Matt will have popcorn (100 calorie pack) which is fine - but on the cleanse I try to avoid those types of snacks. I haven't finished my 3rd 25oz of water yet but I will before we even start the movie.

TOTAL CALORIC INTAKE FOR THE DAY: 1,437 CALORIES!

My goal is 1,420 so I'm right on today! Plus I had boot camp which burns several hundred calories.

Again, I'd like to see better protein % with my chart but I'm happy that my protein is as high as it is!

Every day gets better and better and my ability to with hold from cravings does as well. I could totally have a 100 calorie bag of popcorn but I know if I do the salt may bloat me up and make feel sluggish in the AM. So I'm choosing a healthier option instead. And I'm happy I can make that decision and feel good about it!

SO we've decided that those of you who order the 24 Day Challenge from us will be invited to a private Facebook group with others who are taking the challenge around the same time as yourself. This will be a support group where you can post updates, photos, how you feel, ask questions and gain support not only from Matt and I but also others going through it too! If you are interested in starting a 24 Day Challenge visit https://www.advocare.com/140247668/Store/24Wizard/ and order yours today! If you do let us know and we will match you with a group! :)

Until tomorrow! :)

 

Advocare 24 Day Challenge: Day 1

Well today started off a lot worse than I would have truly wanted it to. But that's life. The wind was blowing so hard that I couldn't sleep. Our eldest woke up at 2am and stayed awake until 6am. Because we knew that if we woke her up to catch the bus at 7 she would have given her teachers a difficult time, we let her sleep in and I took her to school before boot camp. And I ended up being almost 30 min late to boot camp. Boo.

Anyways... Here is how Day 1 went:

8am: Made my spark and weighed myself before jumping in the shower. I did not measure myself since my boot camp instructor does it for us at the start and end of each session. I suggest you do as measurements are an excellent way to see weight loss! (I'm not a fan of the scale!) And take front, back, and side photos too!

 9am: Fiber drink mixed with 4oz of TROP 50 and 2oz of water. Took my catalyst too.

Pulled breakfast out and dumped it onto my plate, put kids in the car, headed to drop Evie off at school and get to my boot camp.

Breakfast Breakdown - 326 calories
One hard boiled egg (whole) - 72 calories
2 Hardboiled egg whites- 34 calories
1 cup mixed berries (straw, blue, rasp)- 80 calories
Fiber drink and OJ- 95 calories
Spark- 45 calories


9:50-10:30: 40 Min of BOOTCAMP!! Lots of running... Sprinting actually today. Not a fan but I know it's good for me so I sucked it up. Still felt like I was going to cough up blood afterwards. Oh how I wish I liked running! My little boot camp buddy makes it so much more enjoyable though! Finished 25oz of water before getting back home from boot camp!

Noon: Sat down long enough to eat lunch. I try not to sit down for too long during the day. It's a trap. That's a hard thing to avoid as a stay home mom. I don't turn the TV on either. That's another trap. Instead I sit down for 15-20 to eat and then get moving. Following lunch I prepped and started dehydrating homemade fruit roll ups, washed a load of laundry and folded two loads, prepped and made dinner to including flash freezing a portion. Finished up my second 25oz of water!

Lunch Breakdown - 477 calories
2 pieces of Natures Own Whole Wheat Sugar Free bread - 100 calories
6oz of my homemade chicken salad- 207 calories (Recipe: http://tiny.cc/qm4ldx)
28 Roasted Salted almonds - 170 calories

4:00pm: Ate my snack: banana (105 calories)

5:00pm: Went on a brisk walk with the family! 1.25 miles at 3.0mph!

6:00pm: Ate dinner. Drank my last 25oz of required water - and I'm still going!

Dinner Breakdown - 434 Calories
2 Servings of Daddy's Meatloaf - 348 calories (Recipe: http://tiny.cc/2k4ldx)
1 Cup of boiled Green beans with dash of Balsamic Vinegar - 47 calories
1 Serving of Cauliflower Mash - 39 Calories (Recipe: http://tiny.cc/pl4ldx)

7:30pm: Played outside with the kids! Motion is motion!

8:30pm: Took my herbal cleanse and my omegaplex.

TOTAL CALORIC INTAKE ON DAY 1: 1,341 Calories

My personal goal based on MyFitnessPal is 1,420 so I am a little under for the day. If I get hungry later on I will grab an apple or some fruit, but I'm fairly well adjusted to this amount so I'm feeling fine as of right now. You always need to base your diet on how many calories your body needs. My husband eats the same amount of calories for meals that I do but he usually adds in an extra snack or a protein bar to meet his goal.

One of the reasons I love MyFitnessPal is that it gives you this awesome pie chart of your nutrition for the day. My personal goal is to be at 40% protein, 30% fat, and 30% carb but that is pretty difficult for me. Today was actually a great day hitting almost 30% for protein!

 

Closing of Day 1....

I feel great! It took no time for me to get back to my energetic new way of life after indulging over the weekend and turning a bit grumpy because of it. My husband walked in from work, looked at me and said "Glad to have you back!"