Day 17!

When my friend Keri approached me about the 24 day challenge I had no idea what was in store for me. Seventeen days in and I have lost pounds and inches. On top of that my clothes are fitting and looking better. However, the most important thing that I never saw coming, is it has changed me. I used to drink 8-12 cans of diet coke a day and I ate horribly. I had no desire to change but thought if I am going to do the challenge then I would commit and see what happens. I have found that I don't need or even want that diet coke. I have no desire to pig out on fast food and I have so much energy that I want to work out. This challenge has changed my life. It is not going to stop on day 25. The 24 day challenge gave me the jumpstart that I needed to be a healthier me. Not only am I thanking myself but if Luke knew exactly what his mommy was up to he would be thanking me as well :)

& the same pictures next to my day one pictures!

 

High five for day 5/24

Day four is underway!

And I feel on top of the world. I woke up feeling happy but now that I weighed myself and saw that this is working I feel on cloud nine. I think Ill be skipping everywhere I walk today. I took the challenge for so many reasons but one of them is because I haven't been able to break my plateau weight since high school 9 years ago. I am now six pounds under that weight. 9 years of trying and all it took was this. Its incredible really.

Some quick thoughts about the challenge for day four:

- Drink a lot of water (we are cleansing) and limit soda.
  (This was huge for me. I drank exclusively diet coke for years on end. No water, no juice, no anything. I am talking 8-9 cans a day. I have drastically cut that 2 or 3 and I don't even miss them. I think the Spark drink has helped a lot too. I love me some Spark.)

- I am not hungry. I have not starved myself. In fact, by following the 24 Day Challenge guide supplied to me, I have ate a hearty and fulfilling breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner. What I have done is changed the horrible stuff I was eating (ie loads of French fries) and replaced it with choices with my health in mind. I should be eating vegatables per the guide but the truth is I just don't like them. While I am giving everything I can to the challenge I will not force myself to do things I don't like. So, I haven't force feed myself veggies. Easy.

Here is to today and the following 20 and beyond! And congrats to my mother in law! She started her challenge today!

What is the 24 Day Challenge?

Today is day three of my 24 Day Challenge and I am feeling great. My spirits and energy are at an all time high and I am genuinely very grateful I took a leap of faith and invested my dedication and focus to this program. With that said I realize that I have been talking about the 24 Day Challenge a lot lately and many probably wonder what exactly is this challenge all about.

So, lets dive into the nitty gritty.

The 24-Day Challenge is a comprehensive supplementation and nutrition program designed to give your body the jumpstart it needs to help you reach your goals. There's something for everyone whether you are looking for weight management, energy, overall body composition or overall wellness.

CLEANSE PHASE
Proper absorption of nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals is essential to maintaining a healthy body. However, periodic lifestyle changes may generate the need for a "fresh start" - that's where the Cleanse Phase comes in. On Days 1-10 of the 24-Day Challenge, you will take three products.

These products, in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise, help to rid your body of waste and prepare your body to better absorb nutrients. This isn't the kind of cleanse where you drastically reduce calories or consume only liquids - this is the beginning of a healthier lifestyle!

Herbal Cleanse is designed to help eliminate waste and prepare your body for optimal nutrient absorption.
                           
There are three components of the Herbal Cleanse: Fiber Drink - which is mixed with 8 oz. of water, Herbal Cleanse caplets and ProBiotic Restore™ ULTRA Capsules. AdvoCare recommends using Herbal Cleanse every 90 days.

The second product you will use in the Cleanse Phase is OmegaPlex^®, which is a high-quality blend of essential Omega-3 fatty acids for overall wellness. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential components of heart, nerve, muscle, skin, bone and immune health. As with all of the AdvoCare products, OmegaPlex^® meets high standards for safety and efficacy so you can be sure you are getting some of the purest Omega-3 fatty acids on the market.

AdvoCare Spark^® is a unique multi-nutrient system that was developed as a nutritional source of energy and enhanced mental focus.* It's sugar free with more than 20 vitamins, minerals and nutrients that work synergistically to provide a healthy, balanced and effective source of energy that won't overburden or over stimulate your body.

These three products work to cleanse and prepare your body for the Max Phase, days 11-24.

MAX PHASE

After completing the Cleanse Phase, it’s time to move into days 11-24: The Max Phase. The Max Phase is about fueling your body in order to achieve maximum results. During this phase you will take three products that work together to provide you with sustained energy, appetite control, core nutrition and overall wellness. Upon completion of the 24-Day Challenge, these products can continue to be taken every day as part of a healthy lifestyle.

During the Max Phase, you can choose from three Metabolic Nutrition Systems which all provide sustained energy, appetite control, core nutrition and overall wellness.*                                

If you’re not sure which system to use, AdvoCare recommends beginning with MNS^® 3, which provides you with a foundational level of appetite control and energy.* For a higher level of appetite control you can choose MNS^® C^†, and for more energy you can choose MNS^® E^†*.

All three formulations include: CorePlex^® (our multivitamin), OmegaPlex^®, ProBiotic Restore™ ULTRA, thermogenic components and additional wellness supplements.

Skipping meals is a common mistake people make in weight-management or wellness programs. The Meal Replacement Shake is a healthy, delicious solution. Each shake includes 22-24 grams of protein, 24 grams of carbohydrates, 5-6 grams of fiber, 26 vitamins and minerals, and 50 percent of the recommended daily allowance of calcium. They come in several great-tasting flavors.

An additional box of AdvoCare Spark^® completes the Max Phase.

And that is it! The 24 Day Challenge isn't a fad diet. When combining the above mentioned Advocare products with a healthy diet and exercise I guarantee you are going to feel great! I hope you found all this information helpful in deciding if this is right for you! If you would like to join me in the 24 Day Challenge you can click here!

I found this text on the AdvoCare website*

First day of the 24 Day Challenge complete!

Today was my first day of the 24 Day Challenge. Whoa, it was awesome. It felt incredible to actually focus on taking care of myself. I worked out for the first time in a year and ate well. I am so glad I have committed  myself to becoming healthier as my mind and body are already thanking me. I have a feeling big things are in store!

A picture of one of my snacks. Usually I have French fries or chips with a diet coke when I am hungry!

I am not sure if I am going to post everyday of the challenge or not but I will most definitely keep the blog posted on everything!

Starting weight: 129.6

So here is to me! I am on my way to feeling so much better than I have been!

If you are reading this and might be interested in having more energy, losing weight, toning muscle or feeling overall better wellness just let me know! I will be starting a new challenge group soon!

Congratulations to Paula!

I want to give a big shout out and congratulations to Paula for committing herself to the 24 Day Challenge!

According to tracking details my 24 Day Challenge bundle will be at my doorstep any moment! I am going to use today to prepare my plan and have already gone grocery shopping where I made better picks. I think it will be helpful to have good choices readily available! Paula's should arrive in two days and she will start behind me! Here is to us! 

Before pictures

The time has come to take and share my 'before' picture.  My 24 Day Challenge bundle should be arriving soon so I am bravely putting this out there in hopes of having one heck of an 'after' picture.

I am ready, feel motivated, have goals set and my head is focused on success! For my challenge and beyond I don't have a number on the scale I want to achieve. Its a feeling of overall happiness about my self and the desire to be a healthier me.

If anyone has decided they'd like more information or want to join me in the journey just let me know via comment or email! You can also click on the picture below.