This is just so delicious

I have talked with a few of you about how to start your journey to loose weight and overall feel better and some have asked "what are you eating and how are you sticking to the same food everyday?" Well, let me say this I had to change things up...because salad was starting to taste like feet (no I've never tasted feet but if I had I feel thats what they tasted like) I was getting to the point where I had to mix things up and thankfully I found some alternates that really helped me get back on track and feel great about what I was eating. The majority of this entry will be just different recipes that I found that work for me and thats the trick...do what works for you!

Tony's Tiliapia 
Defrost fish filet, preheat oven to about 450 and line a cooking sheet with aluminum foil, drizzle a small amount of olive oil on the aluminum foil. Place fish filet and then pour/squeeze lemon juice over the filet, after that sprinkle tony's or whatever seasoning you would like (I've cooked it with garlic powder) all over it. Then bake for about 15 mins I sometimes do longer because I like the edges crispy. Once you take it out again squeeze lemon juice over the filet.

Fajita salad
Grilled chicken and onions with a small amount of fajita seasoning
Avocado
Lettuce (Romaine)
Diced tomatoes
Cheese (if needed)
**IF you want a dressing you can use the Walden farms ranch dressing or just a small amount of low fat ranch.

Fajita salad with ground meat
Avocado
Lettuce
Extra lean ground beef or lean ground turkey & season with taco seasoning
Diced tomatoes

Crunchy broccoli 
Preheat oven to around 400. Cut broccoli, season with salt and pepper and put a small amount of olive oil. Shake it up in a bag. Place on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil. Let cook around 15 mins!

Thats just a few for now, I will try to work on remembering some other ones that I eat, the ones posted are the ones I've used the last few days!

I have lost a total of 10.5 lbs on Advocare and feel great! I have so much energy and I really did not think that I could ever do this. I am enjoying going to the gym I got a membership and have actually been using it! I find that the amount of energy I feel everyday is completely because of my Spark drink that I have everyday! Along with drinking spark, because I have changed my diet and am not consuming things that are greasy and fried I feel a million times better!

I did start this journey saying how I am not writing this blog to promote a product, I still am not. I like most of you know have struggled with my weight my whole life. I have gone on several different "diets" and have even these past few months started looking into weight-loss surgeries. I had hit rock bottom until I decided I was going to try one last thing, I tried my 24 day challenge and lost 10 lbs from it! Thats not all I gained from these products, I have learned how to eat and what to eat to make my body happy and I also have learned these products do work! I would never try to push a product on anyone that I had not tried myself but I personally have and I personally love them! I want to help people thats all I have ever wanted to do and after this 24 day challenge I know that by signing up with Advocare I can do just that. If anyone else wants to start their Advocare journey let me know I would be glad to talk to you about it or get you in contact with someone! :)

www.advocare.com/130839629

Sun, Sand, Stars, and Struggles.

Going and going and going. 

Let me begin by saying I am so sorry for not updating as much as I began this journey saying I would. I recently took vacation to California which involved a whole lot of everything and not a whole lot of free time. Everyday was packed solid with sight seeing and trying to find the Kardashians. (jk we weren't really doing that) The one thing I did have to find out about California rather than back home is you walk EVERYWHERE! I'm not talking about like a block to get to a restaurant, I'm talking about 4-5 blocks to get to a restaurant, and site seeing yeah just get ready to walk which seems like miles upon miles. Sure glad I brought my tennis shoes because I felt like I was working out everyday, and in California unlike home there are hills every distance. If your not going up a hill your coming down one, aka your legs will feel the burn even when your just checking out the stars along a sidewalk. The weather does make up for all the walking because like us Baton Rouge people know, if I was to walk outside of my house back home I need to walk right back in to take a shower. In California, its a nice 70 degrees at 12 in the afternoon and it just gets cooler from there. (I must admit that part was super nice)

Lets go on and talk about food shall we?

Well, I did not eat as amazing and wonderful as I would of liked. I did hold back and didn't find myself snacking during the day and not eating as much as I would of a few weeks ago. At dinner I found that I put half of my food aside the majority of the time and couldn't of finished it if I tried. I did eat bad at times though, I mean come on who really is going to travel 3000+ miles and eat salad and healthy food everyday...? Yeah, not this girl who loves food as much as I do. I did continue to have breakfast everyday even if it was yogurt and granola. Which like I have said in previous posts thats good for me...I was drinking a lot of water and my spark which helped me not pass out during each one of our long activity filled days. Another thing about California that I have noticed is that if you wanna eat healthy there, EASY PEASY! Want to go to a salad place, a juicing place, a light meal restaurant...there is one on every block seems like. That is one thing that I wish we had back home, its so hard not to have places to eat that are quick and healthy to eat. I think the whole time I was there I saw 2 McDonalds and maybe 1 Burger King.  Wanna know what else helps those who live in California besides the fact that no one is ever at work seems like and they are always TONS of people walking around, its that there are sidewalks to everything and everything is within walking distance. I did like that, makes you realize how much more exercise one would get if they could walk to go eat rather than drive.

How did the challenge go?

I finished and I finished as strong as I could. I kept my weight off while I was in a place where I was tempted so many times. I did not gain at all while I was on this vacation of 8 days surrounded by food that could make even make the strongest person weak. I do not currently have my measurements but I will get them done sometime in the next 2 days. I ultimately am beyond proud of myself for what I have accomplished. I might not of lost as much as I wanted in the beginning but I gained something that will change my life. I learned how to change my life, I learned how to enjoy my food again but enjoy healthier choices. Like I have said from day one, this challenge to me wasn't about the weightless or promoting the product but they work. Do I know if I am going to sell the products? Nope, but do I want to share my story with people who were just like me? Yes. My journey isn't over I am just beginning. Stay tuned because this journey is going to be long, and hard but I will succeed and I will change my life by simply shrinking one day at a time. 

Vacation struggles

Hello all!!! I first and foremost have to apologize! I have not wrote in almost a week now! I am on vacation in California and between running here and there by the time I get home I'm delirious!! I have had 2 flex days since I've been here where I have eaten "not so good food" but everything has been in moderation. I will update everyone more later!!

Venice Beach, California

Sixteen smixteen.

Sometime we just need some direction...

I forgot to post this the other day so here we go. I have been following this guide more and more since I got it because it does make a lot of since and those of us who evidently don't know how to eat need some direction. If I didn't need help I wouldn't be overweight and could be eating a cheeseburger right now huh? Anyways, the guide tells you what you should look for in a meal and how your plate should look. With me going through this 24 day challenge to help and give me guidence this visual really does work. It shows me that although I can have that fruit I do need to limit it to a certain amount. 

Going and going

Today was one of those days that I just kept on rushing to do everything! This morning I woke up late which when you wake up late you know something bad is bound to happen. Anyways, I get up to make my smoothie and slice my finger open trying to cut a strawberry and then realize that the clothes that I'm going to wear are still wet. Keep in mind I need to be at the girls house to babysit in about 23 mins now, and I live at least 20 away. I forgot my supplements and then forgot my snacks on the table. Didn't forget my shake but that was only because I was sucking it down like I haven't drank anything in years. I made it to the girls house and finally I wouldn't have to worry about food for a few hours. When lunchtime came I had no idea what the girls were going to eat so just opened the fridge and we just had a bunch of different things. They decided on turkey roll ups, tomatoes, strawberries and ruffles chips. I mean hey I'm human. I bet you know what happened next, I ate a chip...well about 5. I must say I felt like crap after I did it. Way worse than the bite of cake that I had at the birthday party. If I could of thrown up just the chips I probably would of. Heres the big kicker! After I got done eating them I thought..."Yeah that was a huge let down, those weren't even that good." After climbing that mountain a few hours later me and the girls got back on track eating baked fish and salad for dinner. I must say it sure was yummy!!

Fifteen days and counting

Getting looser...

Like I have mentioned in my previous post that so far I have lost a total of 8 lbs. Now as excited about this number as I am I feel as though I have lost more inches than that number is leading me to believe. I have a pair of nike tempo shorts, and yes just like skinny girls they are my favorite. See the thing about these nike shorts is that I cant go out just like everyone else and go to Academy and stock up on them. I have to order my size from offline and of course they don't carry them in the stores. UNREAL. Back to my point, these shorts have even began to look and feel looser on me. My t-shirts have a little extra room in them than before which motivates me even more to keep on going. Am I to the point that I need to go and buy new clothes? Not at all. But overall I find that clothes are getting looser. To be honest thats the style now anyways huh big t-shirts that cover your nike shorts. (At least thats all my little sister wears) Same little sister who has 10 pairs of nike shorts and likes to pair them with one of my XL t-shirts. Soon enough I'll be fitting right in huh sis? 

Advocare world.

Everything has been great with all the products that I'm using from Advocare. I really didn't think that I would be able to handle a program that was the same everyday but its actually working out very nice. The meal replacement shakes that I have talked so highly about really do get me excited to eat/drink breakfast. I'm mixing up the shakes with different types of fruit everyday so I don't get tired of the same ole thing everyday. I have started eating not so much fish but a-lot of salads. I am finding that a salad will fill me up and I actually like the refreshing feeling after I get done eating it. I haven't cooked any more chicken after the last batch I grilled with chewy. I'm still stuck on the same type of tilapia that I mentioned from day one. I'm trying new snacks instead of just almonds that really are helping when I get super hungry! I'm using recipes from the Paleo diet which really has helped give me some variety. The Paleo foods are high in protein and low in carbs and thats just what I'm looking for :) This website has a great list of high fiber low carb foods which also has been very helpful! 

1. Avocado and a spoon. Simple and perfect! 
2. Boiled egg white. 
3. Blueberries, strawberries, rasberries with coconut flakes.  
4. Cherry tomatoes
5. Cucumbers and carrots
6. Frozen grapes
7. Turkey roll ups. 
8. Apple slices with natural nut butter
9. Hummus with 6 low fat croutons 
10. Bell-peppers

HALF WAY THERE...day 14!

TODAY IS THE HALF WAY POINT! 

Let me begin by saying...I am so sorry I haven't been posting the past 2 days but now I am back and more excited than ever! Today is the half way point and what better of day than today to go and visit family. (These people have not seen me since I started this journey) Anyways,  today was a test for myself to see if all this hard work has paid off. I would say that it surly has. I walked into the home and my family was in shock with the way I have changed in such a short amount of time. I will say that at this point I have lost 8 lbs which is beyond amazing to me! I know I keep saying oh its not about the weighloss but, it makes you feel so great when you see that number that you hate seeing on the scale get smaller. I feel amazing! I have so much more energy and I am just enjoying every moment of this. 

"No thank-you no biscuits."

Today I got to go to lunch with a woman who has supported me since I was very young. She has believed in me through thick and thin and who I look up to very very much. Anyways, at lunch we sat down to eat. Which we have done MANY times before. She knows my love for bread, I mean anyone who has eaten breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks with me, knows my love for bread. Used to I would of gone right to the hamburgers and ordered that with french fries, or fried shrimp with a diet coke which would of ended up  being around 4 diet cokes during my meal. Today was a whole different story. It started like this.. I ordered my water and then the question I used to get so excited I could hardly sit still came up..."Would you like biscuits?" I felt as though an inner strength responded for me. I calmly and without even thinking said "No thank you no biscuits" It felt AMAZING!!! Did I really just turn away bread?! I did and didn't even feel bad about it! I then proceeded to order grilled asparagus, tilapia and shrimp. The kicker with this was it was supposed to have this parmesan  cream sauce all over it, not on my plate! I asked them to put it on the side in which I tasted it but really didn't even like that! I loved my meal! I didn't feel horrible after I felt full and satisfied. Why have I not been eating like this for years?! 

All in all, today was great! I might not be noticing quite yet that my body is changing but I have gotten many different compliments from people saying they can see it. Advocare is helping me change my life and I'm ready!! :) 

On the twelfth day of Advocare...&& the thirteenth

I can do it...I can do it...

I will only make this challenge as good as I want to. The past two days I have not worked as hard as I could of. Am I super upset about it? No not at all, no one said this is going to be the easiest thing in the whole world and I have to be super strict. I am doing this whole thing for me. I am learning as I go. Advocare products are just a tool to help me become successful. I am a huge fan of the Berry replacement shake, and if you throw in fresh fruit it changes the taste into something that tastes exactly like Smoothie King! Yesterday I had strawberries and blackberries in my smoothie. Today was probably the winner!! I added banana, yup I loved it! Instead of taking all the supplements all day long I'm taking the majority of them in the morning which really gets my body jumpstarted and then my final pack at lunch. During this part of the challenge I'm going to cut back on the fruit and eat more veggies so I can really try to maximize the weightless that is available. After reading many testimonials, the majority of people loose their maximum amount of weight during the last 14 days of the challenge.

Its okay to be scared...

I haven't weighed yet...Am I scared? Yes. Why you may ask? Well, because I am so overweight. I have never liked getting on a scale. I find it to be very intimidating and find that if the numbers do not go down as quick as I would like, I feel like I'm wasting my time.. All my life the scale has always been there to make me feel defeated or to just upset me. I am slowing getting over this. I don't look like I weigh what the scale tells me but at the end of the day that number on that screen is what I weigh. No matter what. Does that number mean something? Yes of course it does! I mean you have to be a certain weight to go skydiving! (I was just giving an example, I don't wanna do it) I guess what I'm trying to say is this...That number, while it may be large or small or not what you exactly want it to be. You are beautiful no matter what number it is. I know people who weigh 115-250 lbs and each one of them are beautiful! The society that we live make us to believe we have to be a size 2-4 and weigh less than 150 and while they might be nice. I will never be that girl. I don't want to be that girl. I want to be myself, only I want to be HEALTHY.

Eleven.

BERRY SHAKE=YUMMY! 

Today marks day eleven in my journey. Looking back on the 'herbal cleanse' I would have to say I don't want to do that again in the near future. For anyone reading this thinking about Advocare, the first ten days you have to have the will power to get through it. Then again if you are thinking about this product then you are strong and have the willpower to do anything. The worst part of the first ten days is the fiber drink, after that its smooth sailing. The good thing with the fiber drink is that you can mix your Spark packet with it also, its just the whole process of getting it down. I must say though today was the first day of my Max Phase which will last 14 days. Instead of having a fiber shake in the morning and cooking my breakfast of protein, fruit, and a complex carb, I am drinking a meal replacement shake. After much research I decided on the berry flavor rather than vanilla or chocolate because I heard it was the best one and I'm really not a huge fan of the other two flavors unless they are ice cream flavors :) This morning I mixed up my shake and threw in a few extra strawberries and raspberries and I could almost live on what I was tasting! It was amazing!! With my breakfast I take the majority of my supplements to get me going for the day. 

 A Gallon and a half later...

There is something about drinking a whole gallon of water a day that really will get you. My kidneys are still trying to get me to go to the bathroom ALL the time but I already HATE going to the bathroom so this part of the whole deal sucks. I mean I have a whole new love for water now, because I honestly drink so much of it I see myself as a camel. Everyone at work today ordered big nice juicy hamburgers, if you don't think I didn't think about sneaking into the back and taking a huge bite out of one of them you are so very wrong. I was in a rush this morning and didn't get to go grocery shopping this weekend so I settled again with the same ole salad that I've been bringing for the past 4 days. It's safe to say that the dip that had been sitting out for 2 days on the side table looked better than the food I was eating. My salad actually kinda tasted like a foot to be honest, just wasn't in the mood for it today so I think its time to shake it up a little. The shake from breakfast and gallon of water I had drank kept me full the majority of the day to where at no point during the day did I get hungry, I did however have to use the bathroom constantly! 

I am not noticing a change in my weight or clothes yet but I am noticing a change in both my energy level and the way I feel. I do know that with this challenge I have many people who are both supporting me and cheering me on and that makes for things to be so much easier. I have been told good luck from people that I haven't talked to in years and that makes all of this so worth it. I was even told the other day that it looked like I was loosing weight in my face and if that doesn't make a girl smile then I don't know what will. My workout tonight was very good I felt like tomorrow I am really going to feel it. I did many different sets of things squats, lunges, side steps along with my swimming. If I cant run I will find something that gets the job done. I do need to come up with a play list though..hmm I need to start thinking about that.. Lets get this phase started right I cant wait to see what will come from it! 

10 days down!!

GOODBYE FIBER DRINK!!! 

I must say this morning breakfast went just as planned. I took that drink and I drank it like I never have before. I am not a huge fan of the mandarin orange spark I have discovered. I love the fruit punch and am starting to prefer it more than the other. I'm getting in the routine of making my breakfast and enjoying it. I find that it does help me wake up to a certain extent. Let me say this. If you are one of those people who say "I cant eat breakfast, its gross" I have been there! I hated everything to do with food right when you wake up and I would do anything in my power not to eat it. Now Waffle House at 2:00 in the morning doesn't count. I'm talking rolling out of bed at 7 am and about to go to work. Now that is breakfast and I despised it! Looking back on these last 10 days, if I can wake up and within the first 45 mins of me being away eat something simi healthy, then anyone and I mean anyone can do it! 

I hung out with some good friends of mine today and we decided to venture onto the other side of town. Which in my case is Whole Foods and many other stores that I would spend way to much money in. Whole Foods being one of them, but some times you just have to go in. Before I even get into what I got from Whole Foods I have to say. Why is it that America wants its citizens to be skinny and it cost so darn much in order to buy the healthy food. I mean sure there are better things in it but I'm a broke college student who's tuition just increased by seems like a million percent. Anyways, off of that soapbox. For anyone that has been in Whole Foods you have  to check out their salad bar. It is probably one of the best I have seen. Everything that one could want is there. I made what looked like the best salad that I could ever have. I was kind of excited about my little treat to myself. It sure was a great salad but once again kinda high on the price of the veggies in a paper box. I also got some freshly ground peanut butter and I now know what my new sack/desert/ I NEED A TREAT will be. I love it!!! It actually might be simi close to beating out regular peanut butter. Better watch out Jiffy.

After looking back on these last 10 days I have already accomplished so much that I am proud of. I have resisted a whole day that was surrounded my sweets, I have started eating breakfast, I have worked out 8/10 days, I eat between 5-6 times a day, I have drank close to a gallon of water every day, but most of all I have started to feel better. I have more energy and I am ready to excell in the rest of this weightless/life changing journey. With this I did have a celebratory snack today. I had a bite of a friends birthday cake. That was really all I wanted but I wanted to reward myself for working so hard and hey sometimes its okay to reward yourself. Plus I was at a dinner and didn't drink at all :) So here we go. 14 more days to go and I am going to work harder than I ever have and kick butt!! 

MAX PHASE GET READY...

On the 9th day

Seems like when you travel you always think about food at some point of the trip. I had the day off and got to drive to Ruston to get my car fixed and visit family for the day. I woke up this morning only to have to drink another fiber shake. It didn't go as well as I would of hoped. I had to cough in the middle of the second gulp and that was the end of it. Next thing you know I was cleaning up fiber drink that had gone everywhere. After breakfast I got on the road and away I went. Luckily, I had almonds in my backseat because around 10:00 I was ready for my snack and the almonds once again did the trick. I also found its a lot easier to drink a lot of water when you are on a road trip, I felt like I drank so much on the way there and back. Of course when I get there it is ready for lunch, I mean have you met my family, do we skip meals nahhh...Under the circumstances I was in I still held my ground and did a good job. I had a salad with a lot of yummy veggie toppings and then fruit. I find that now this is filling me right up and doing the trick. I will say...I miss diet coke.

I got a very cool present while I was in Ruston to give me a little bit of motivation, if you wanna call it that. It's a ice chest that can fit in my trunk and stays cold for long periods of time. And what would a ice chest be if it didn't have my initials on it! So very proud I am just in love with it!!  I carried on with the rest of my day doing what I have been doing best these past few days...not thinking about food and just drinking my water. All in all it was a very good day. I didn't loose my energy because like I have said before SPARK works! Tomorrow is my last day of the cleanse and I think it went very well. I am hoping to really start seeing a change in not only how I look but the way I feel, because right now I'm just sore :)

8 8 8 is great.

Cookies, Brownies, Cakes. Oh my! 

Day eight means the start of the fiber drink again. Wasn't as bad as I remember to be completely honest. I finished cooking the rest of my breakfast and was onto work. Today was sweets day. AKA the worst day for anyone who is trying to diet to come to work. AKA I should of been canceled just so I didn't have to see the deliciousness that was there. The amount of baked goods that we had, one would think that we would all be obese. Not the case at all, well you know. I actually didn't really want any of the stuff to be honest it was just there, although the cookie dough dip with vanilla wafers did look pretty scrumptious. Lunch ehhh kind of difficult sitting there eating a salad, eye level with a brownie/cream cheese cupcakes, but it was doable.. I don't want any of you to get the wrong idea, this "diet" isn't saying that I can never eat those things again but, right now I don't need those things. I'm not looking at this 24 day challenge as a diet. I'm looking as it as a tool to teach me how to change my life and my eating habits. Yes, I could of eaten a small taste of the dip that I was drooling over but I really didn't want to. I am learning self-control which is something I clearly struggle with...seeing as how I'm in this situation. I learned a lesson about myself today through all of that though. You can say no to anything, you might hate it, but in the end your glad.

I will say this eating healthy thing is getting easier, my kidneys have adjusted to the amount of water that I'm drinking. Which means I'm not peeing every 10 mins but now every 15. Just kidding but, it sure does seem that way. I am actually feeling full after my portions and I stay full until it is time to eat again. I find that spark is doing exactly what it does best. Give me energy! I am full of it. I find that I can drink it and I get things done that used to I would put off. I have been able to come home after work every-night and work out and cook my dinner not dread doing it.

Speaking of working out. I am sore as I don't know what. I feel like elephants have trampled all over my legs and they are on the verge of falling off. Tonight to walk up my stairs was kind of impossible but really didn't feel like getting carpet burn on my knees from crawling so I made it to the top. Now my ice water that I left downstairs...its a hopeless cause because I'm staying right here. Tap water will do.

Hump day number 7!

RESTART.

After a day like yesterday I decided I pretty much hated how it went and wasn't gonna do that again. This morning was my last morning without the Fiber drink during this cleanse phase. I haven't stepped on the scale since the beginning and don't feel like I want to yet. I started this journey not to loose a drastic amount of weight (which would be a pretty good bonus) but because I wanted to feel better. I want to go hiking with friends, be comfortable in a swimsuit, and run and play with my nephew when I see him along with many other things. 

Like I have said in previous posts its TECH week at work. Today breakfast was provided but I knew that I most likely wouldn't be able to eat much. I grabbed my water bottle and my banana and was on my way to breakfast. When I got there there were many things that I couldn't have but there were things that I could have. This brings me to my next point. A very special person who happens to be my stepmom, told me today...

"DONT DWELL ON THE THINGS YOU CANT EAT,BUT LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE THINGS YOU CAN HAVE."

Thats just what I did. Although the crispy tator-tots looked amazing, I got eggs and a small amount of grits. That was all I wanted and that to me was satisfying. Then I got a beautiful candy bouquet from work (thank you to all the nurses who put it together) I cant wait to stare at it and wish that I could shove all the candy in my mouth :) The rest of the week at work might not be so easy to resist but I can do it. Tomorrow is sweets day so once again thinking about detouring all day and not entering the sweets heaven that was once our break-room.

I brought my lunch today which was actually a really good salad that I was kinda excited about. I'm sure all of you are thinking you were excited about a salad? I must of been pretty hungry but nah not really if you add a bunch of veggies it really is amazing! During this salad that I was pumping myself up about the people I was eating with had big nice taco salads that were screaming FIESTA in my face. I just proceeded eating my salad that was probably a lot better anyways :)

DONT RAIN ON MY PARADE. 

After a taking a day to not work out I really was like "Oh its been a really long day, I could go watch a movie, its only one more day." While thinking this I really wanted to go work out at the time. Good thing I was texting a good friend who told me "Get yo butt up and go do it!!!! You just said you were bored." Thanks Shari for that little kick in the butt. Well, after I got outside to start about 20 mins into my workout it would start raining. I looked up and just laughed, there are some things that you have to just smile about and that was one of them. I got out there and at this point was halfway done with my work out and it was raining, bad luck? Nah it all worked out and tonight was one of the best workouts that I have had in all 7 days. 

Spark is giving me the right amount of energy that is needed for me to really get things done during the day without getting jittery or feel weird. This program really is a great tool in aiding you in the success that can come from many days after one has completed the 24 days. Tomorrow it is back on to the fiber drink for another few days so lets keep this thing going...happy so far :) 

Six sucked.

You win some you loose some..

The start of day 6 should of went better than it did. I woke up late this morning so my breakfast was on the go which really consisted of fruit, my spark, and almonds. (Not to great huh) The first thing I messed up on was the random items I just described as my 'breakfast' which really looked more like foods I could grab quickly. I rushed out of the house forgetting my water bottle which was the second thing I did wrong this morning. Finally, I had nothing else ready for the day. I couldn't find my keys which as many of you already know that puts you in a frenzy where you are running all over the house causing it to look like a tornado. Oh and then when you think its all over you look at the key hook on the wall and there they are. Kill me now. I got into my car which didn't have gas and proceeded to make the apt that I had scheduled. 

I feel pretty..

Getting your hair done always seems to make things so much better than they were when you walked into the salon. My hair dresser had a slot open up today in which I got to claim as my own to get my roots fixed, because Lord knows they needed it. I tend to let them get way out of control to the point people are like "You should try my hairdresser he/she are great." Thank you for trying to help but I love mine. I just cant see to pay that much every 4 weeks. I can make it last. After two hours I was back to looking normal and my hair didn't look two toned I proceeded to go home. At this time it was 3:00 and I had missed lunch, of course that would happen. 

All of the events that happen today didn't play out like I wanted them to, and sometimes thats going to happen. Am I quitting.? NEVER. Am I giving up? You have got to be crazy. I will conquer all of the things that I set out to do. There are days where things wont go the way you have them planned, but no more curve balls for this girl. Tomorrow is a brand new day, day 7 to be exact and I cant wait. I have my hair looking good and now its time for me to really buckle down and get serious.  

5...5...5...5

"Ice-cream is in the freezer..."

It's funny how when you start eating right and working out that you seem to be given many different opportunities to eat bad. I have found with just these 5 days I've been offered more bad food than I would of ever noticed. Its not that I don't think about diving in and sitting on my kitchen floor with a can of whip cream its that I know I can resist. I have found a 'new love' for the food that I'm eating that it really isn't making me miss all the bad food.

Looking forward to working out is probably the strangest change that I have developed. I would of used to rather stab myself in my eye balls than work out. Okay maybe not that, sorry a little dramatic but I did hate it! I had to work out in the middle of the day which kinda sucked because I look better in a swim suit at night when no one is around. Ha! Just kidding! Anyways, My mom came over to swim and as I'm telling her how I looked up exercise in the pool you would of think she saw a ghost or that I said something horrible! She looks at me and says "Are you kidding me right now?! I was a swim aerobics instructor Brittany!" If you saw my mom she looks like an aerobics instructor (I surely didn't get her genes) We proceeded on with our workout which lasted a hour doing all kinda different pool exercises. To say the least, I was out of breath and my legs, arms, butt, and stomach were all on FIRE by the end of this workout. Touche Danna Touche!

I can't run 1 mile, 

not even gonna think about having to do 26...

I work in the Peds ER with what I like to think are the best nurses in the whole entire world. Many of them being runners, which to me is a crazy sport. It only seems crazy because if my body ever ran as much as them I would find myself in the ER as a patient rather than working. Well, it happens to be TECH week which means..if your on a diet that kinda sucks because there will be good food all week! Today was ICECREAM day....I walked into the back to put my bag up and first thing I hear "So Brittany what ice-cream is better health or crunch bar?" The saliva started to build up in my mouth and I knew I needed to get out and get out FAST!  The great thing about this was I didn't really want the ice cream but it was there. It was easy to get to and it was there for me to take. That is what gets me in trouble its not that I actually want the food its that its there. I mean come on I am human!  Not only was there ice cream, one of our nurses (the one whose kids I babysit) makes the best cupcakes in the whole entire world. She made a huge announcement stating how there was cupcakes in the back. At that moment, I knew I no longer could walk through the break room for the remainder of the day. 

I said I would get back to about the organization and meal planning.

 I have planned out everything for the next few days:

Today

Lunch-brocolli and fish

Snack-berries (rasberries, blueberries, blackberries)

Dinner-Salad (cucumbers, red bell paper, cucumber) and fish

Tuesday, July 23

Breakfast-Oatmeal and banana

Snack-hummas and celery 

Lunch-Grilled chicken (lemon seasoning) asparagus and half sweet potato

Snack-Almonds

Dinner- Grilled tilapia salad 

Wednesday July 24

Breakfast-eggs with turkey 

Snack-celery 

Lunch-grilled chicken in a wheat wrap

Snack-avacado

Dinner-half sweet potato with baked tilapia 

Lunch today 

Dinner today

So I know that all my posts have been like super positive and make it sound like this has been a great 5 days but I am struggling with something that I actually didn't think I was going to struggle with. Drinking water...I know that might be silly but,  drinking water all day and ALOT of it is hard! So I got a cute new water bottle that Im going to try out, maybe it will help ha whatcha think?! 

Todays day 4 only 20 more!

Food has a way to tempt you....

I want to start this post off my saying. I don't sell this product nor am I telling you to buy it. I'm not gonna say it's better than this or that because I don't even know. I do know that I hope it works for me. I have tried many different types of "diets" but that's not what I need. Nope I need a lifestyle change, and that's what this program is teaching me to develop. Okay off that topic! 

I feel as though ever since I've stopped eating all the foods I LOVE and think about and probably could eat all day long . They are there waiting for me to eat them. Kind of like a mosquito that you know is buzzing around but you can't find it. Today I had that mosquito in my ear only it was the smell of chicken tenders and french fries. Talk about torture! Then after I got done conquering that delicious smell of fried greatness. I walk into the break room and there it was. Glowing on the table a freshly scrumptious banana and chocolate chip bread. I sat there with my salad and fruit and thought "Are you kidding me right now?" Ive had to skip sushi, say no to garlic bread, smell the aroma of popcorn, practically taste the chicken tenders and french fries, and now stare at banana bread during my whole lunch. I took a second to snap a photo to show y'all my view for lunch. 

I can not stress enough the importance of organization throughout this whole thing. Meals are a lot easier if you already have things prepared and ready. This morning I found myself trying to make myself breakfast, pack a lunch, pack 2 snacks, and make sure I wasn't forgetting my head in the process. Tonight I'm going to really plan out the rest of the week and make sure things are as organized as they can be. I'll let yall know how it turns out...

Dinner for tonight--grilled chicken and asparagus. YUM! 

People will sometimes surprise you...

I started this blog really so I can reflect on everything that I'm doing and going through during this journey. I honestly didn't even think I was going to post it because who wants to read about someone's struggle with eating bread and going through a weight-loss journey. It has been published for one day and I'm so happy that I decided to publish it. I have gotten many messages telling me how they are rooting for me and cant wait to see what comes of this 24 day challenge. This morning I got a text from a good friend (who does need to eat a cheeseburger every now and then) and who also at one time struggled with her weight and went through with her own life change and conquered it.  I want to say thank you to her. You made my day to know that even if this journey is about my weight-loss it is touching the life of someone else. 

There are many other people who have sent me messages about their story and each one of you are noticed and so strong in my eyes. I'm so proud of each of you and can not wait to share the rest of this journey with each and every one of you.

After day 4 things are going great! Spark is giving me so much energy and I'm not finding myself to be hungry. The amount of water I'm drinking is something that my kidneys are having to get used to, but its getting there. Ive found that putting lemon, lime and cucumbers in water also have helped when you have already drank 100 oz of plain water all day :)

Another thing that I find to be amazing is that I cant wait for my nightly workouts. WHAT?! I am excited about working out. Is it the end of the world?! Nope, its simply just determination and maybe you can even say a new love for myself. 

Lucky number three

Bread bread bread...

Today started out good I mean I really understand now what they mean about the cleanse if u get what I'm saying. Most people are probably wondering okay so if it is 'cleaning' out your body it's going to be a catastrophe...and you will be on the toilet all day. Not so much. Surely not as bad as I thought it was going to be. You go more than usual (at least for me) but it wasn't nothing like the famous bridesmaid quote "it's coming out me like lava!!!!!" But enough of that already huh! 

The fiber drink went about as well as it did yesterday...drinking and gagging because it really is horrible. I actually kinda hate it. But good news I don't have to drink it tomorrow morning! SCORE!!!! 

I found myself not at the house when it was 'snack time' which I was really looking forward to today..so I brought my almonds. Seems like they are always coming to the rescue...

I did have to make myself do something today that I never thought I could do. This is gonna sound super silly but yeah. So my lights went out at my house...yup in the middle of the day with not a rain cloud in site. My roommate had to bake 32 pieces of garlic toast to bring to a party this afternoon. So my bright idea oh ill bring it to my moms and cook it. Have I mentioned my love for bread? If u didn't know it's very deep. Probably my favorite thing in the world. I cooked that bread and smelled the wonderful aroma and didn't   take not one bite. Did I think about it? HELL YES!!! Not to mention my mother is taking about cakes and making crawfish casserole. Thanks a lot for that by the way.. I did it.

Now popcorn and candy?! Really?! 

So the girls decided they wanted to see turbo today and I must say it is super cute! Anyways, what would the movies be without a big bag of buttery delishness??? I had to get it for them..not that mean of a babysitter. I also had to sit in the middle and hold it the whole time and not only hold it but smell it. I once again resisted today and had my big bottle of water and almonds that I snuck in...shh. Overall the fact that I didn't not even eat one kernel made me soo happy! Now on to go work out! Yeah yeah! 

Can't wait to see how tomorrow works out! 

2 down...8 to go!

Sushi and cheesecake...?

Here we are on day two...going the best is can. I went to dinner with friends last night and while they had cheesecake and sushi I ate grilled chicken and veggies. Guess that's the price you have to pay :)

This was my inspiration for the day:

 I babysit two little girls one is 5 and the other is 6. Well, I told the youngest when I was fixing her breakfast that I had to make my yucky drink this is what came of that comment..

Annie- "why do you have to drink a yucky drink?"

Me-"so I can get healthy and play with you for along time.

Annie-"yes I want that and think that's a great idea! Can I try it and drink it with u?" 

Me-"I guess if you want to. It's yucky though"

Annie- "Mrs Brittany how about I drink it with you. You can do it I know you! I will help you!"

We proceeded to cheers our glasses together hold our noses and drink it all in two big sips.  

CHEERS!!!!!!

I found that by mid-morning I was ready for a snack and was getting a headache. Probably because I cut out carbs and my diet coke (my addiction) I grabbed a handful of almonds and within 30 mins it was gone. Perfect! The rest of the day went very well I was full after every meal and when I started to get hungry it was time for snack or a meal. I think my favorite part of the day was my dinner!

Tilapia and a fresh salad! I actually cant wait to eat it again! 

Tilapia recipe: 

Defrost fillet, line cookie sheet with foil, drizzle with olive oil, squeeze lemon over fish, sprinkle Tony's seasoning on fish, bake at 450 until edges are crispy, when you get it out squeeze lemon over it again! SOOOO EASY! 

My sister came over tonight also and kept me company while I did my cardio in the pool. After 30-45 mins of swimming laps and doing kicks in the pool I was pooped! Guess that's what happens when you don't exercise besides walking around the mall ;) Thanks Alyssa for the tunes and laughs while I was looking like a fool! 

That was it for day two. Another day down and already feeling better! Great things are coming I can feel it! 

First day of the cleanse.

Preparation is the key...

Advocare package came in the mail yesterday! Boy oh boy am I ready! The first ten days of the challenge are a cleanse phase where my body gets rid of toxins and gets ready for optimal nutrient absorption. The first 10 days require the use of 3 products. Herbal cleanse which is a drink that is consumed in the morning on days 1-3 and then 8-10. This was probably the hardest thing for me to get used to. One because its nasty and gritty and who really likes to drink these things! You then take a product called Omegaplex at the biggest meal of the day. Not to bad two pills that promote overall wellness. Last but surely not least, SPARK! This is the best part of this program so far for me. It is an energy drink mix that you put in 8-10 oz of water. This energy drink is unlike any I've ever had before. Doesn't make you jittery, give you headaches, or make you feel weird. I was amazed at the fact that my energy level was high all day!

With this program you have to eat 5 times a day with two of the times being snacks. This was going to be my main challenge. Which hey! guess that's why the name 24 day challenge is such a great name! I also started out kinda rough because I hate breakfast! Always have,but I had to get over that! This program is not just eating nuts and berries kinda thing because really who can live off of that! The guide says to start the morning off with spark 30 mins before the meal and then your fiber drink a protein, complex carb, and then fruit. Because I can't stand the taste of the fiber drink I mix the tangerine spark. It kinda reminds you of orange juice with alot of pulp when you mix it! After breakfast I had to go to the store and really get all my food. PLANNING IS THE EASIEST WAY TO STICK TO THE PROGRAM! At lunch you eat a protein, veggie, and then another complex carb. With dinner you take 2 Omegaplex supplements eat a protein, veggie and a complex carb if needed. 

Another thing!!! All day you have to drink water. So in order to find out how much you drink you take your weight and divide it by two and that total is the number of oz you will drink a day

Ex-- 330 lbs divided by 2= 163 oz/day

That is 5.5 of those bottles. Whew that's alot!!! But after you get used to it it's not that bad after all! 

Key things that you need to do on day one: 

• Make a grocery list and figure out what your going to eat for meals 
• For me, I got rid of things in my fridge or pantry that would make me eat bad. Thanks mom for taking everything! 
• Weigh yourself. Write it down. 
• Take your measurements: arms, neck, chest, midriff, hips, waist, thigh, calf. (You don't have to do all of these but I wanted to see where I would loose the most) 
• Come up with an exercise routine that you can do. Has to be something to get you moving at least 4-5 times a week! 

Here is my grocery list that I started out with:

The start of a new beginning.

All my life I have struggled with something that many other people do. I am always on the go with either work or school and don't have time to focus on myself much less what I eat. It's a lot easier to pick up something or just not eat than it is to grill chicken and pack a lunch, at least for me it is. I find myself always wishing I could look another way or fit in by wearing the newest styles, just doesn't happen. A few weeks ago I was captured in a photograph at the biggest I have ever seen myself, I was disgusted. I decided then that I was going to make a change. However long it took I was going to do it. For me, for my family, for everyone who has always believed in me. So this is where my journey starts. I had a very good friend and coworker talk to me about Advocare, and after looking into it for about two weeks I've decided to start with a 24 day challenge. Hope you enjoy going on this journey with me.