24-Day Challenge, of sorts....

With Christmas right around the corner, I can't afford to purchase products.  However, I wanted to start the 24-Day Challenge with the others.  So I decided to do a little experiment.  I am taking my 24 days and exercising at least 30 mins every day, eating the Dr. Oz slim down plan, and taking better care of myself.  I will see how much weight I lose that way, compared to the other girls who are using Advocare.  Then, next month, I'll do my real 24-Day Challenge (with products) and gauge the difference in weight loss no products vs. products.  Wish me luck!  Day 1 down and did pretty good....

Starting 14-day MNSMax E from Trim line of Advocare:

Sorry, Bec, I'm starting a day early....  I am starting the e-pack supplements of the Trim line of Advocare today. I love the energy it gives me and I have so much housework to do that I am starting it today instead of tomorrow, with the rest of the group...  I only have 3 more days until my trip to Michigan.  I am looking forward to that.  I'll get to see my family for the 1st time in 4 years and, hopefully, will be bringing Billie back down here with me.  Getting my nails done tonight (another reason I'm starting the 14 day today instead of tomorrow... I need the energy to scrub my kitchen and bathroom BEFORE getting my nails done!).  Weight-loss speaking, haven't been doing very good at that, but inches lost (thanks to Catalyst) is still awesome!  Got measured at Curves last week and I had lost another 1/2 off my hips and another 1" off of my waist...  Wishing I could regulate WHERE I want the inches to come off though, because my hips are so much wider than my waist already that I still look very large even with 5" off hips (so far) and 3" off waist (so far)...  Becky, any suggestions??  Been doing Zumba off YouTube, as no transportation to classes.  Also the Supreme 90 day which is SUPER D-DUPER HARD!!!  Started my nutrition planning class, which is very interesting... can't wait to learn more...  Thinking about changing my major to Nutrition Sciences instead of IT.  I think it will come in handy more than the IT.

I am now selling the Advocare line of weight loss products:

I love and believe in these products so much that I've decided to become a distributor!  Follow the link to order products.  If you have any questions, find me on facebook or email me at parnold0623@live.com.

3 days left of the challenge:

I'm on day 21 of the 24 day, so I guess including today is 4 days left.  Still feeling absolutely fantastic!  I've noticed the scale being stuck at 160 for the past week.  Hoping it goes down next week, but for now the clothes are still fight better, I have way more energy, and my measurements are also going down.  Did measurements this week, along with weighing.   Here are the results:

3/24/11
R. ankle 9  L. 9
R. calf  13  L. 13 3/4
R. knee 15 1/2 L. 15 1/4
R. thigh 22 3/4  L. 22 1/4
hips 42
waist 32 3/4
bust 37
R. upper arm 12 3/4  L 12 3/4 (hey, they match YAY!)
R. L. arm 8 3/4  L 9
neck 12 1/4

3/19/11 (JUST 5 DAYS AGO!!)
R. ankle 9 1/4  -1/4  L. 9  stayed the same
R. calf 13 3/4 -1/4  L. 13 3/4 stayed the same
R. knee 15 +1/2 (that's odd)  L. 15 + 1/4
R. thigh 25 -2 1/4  L. 25 1/4 -3 (I KNEW it, I can see a big diff in my thighs)
(note for above...  probably from all the squats on the 30 day Wii challenge)
hips 43 -1
waist 36 -3 1/4
bust 37  stayed the same (thank God.  Don't want to lose that)
R. upper arm  13 7/8 -1 1/8  L. 13 5/8 -1 1/4
R. lower arm  9 -1/4  L. 9 stayed the same
neck 12 1/2 -1/4
GRAND TOTAL OF OVERALL INCHES LOST: -9 3/4" 


ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.....  that was only in 5 DAYS!!!  I wish I would have taken my measurements right BEFORE the 24 day challenge!!  But I didn't think of it.  So, it's been 30 minutes and I'm going to drink my "Almond Joy" (for those of you who haven't been following, that's my advoCare chocolate meal replacement and 1/4 tsp. of almond extract!)

Last day of the cleanse.... Day 10

I'm a little nervous, as today is the last day of the cleanse process of my 24-day challenge.  The reason I am nervous is because starting tomorrow, my system will no longer be flushing itself out.  I am starting Day 11, with pre-meal pills, during meal pills, and still taking the Omega-3's at evening.  I am also still going to be taking the Catalyst.  I have been steadily losing a pound/day and I don't want that to stop.  I plan to increase my exercise even further to make sure that my weight loss stays steady.  I am starting to look a lot better, and I FEEL tremendous!!  The energy level feels like I did when I was in my early 20's, and that is saying a lot, because I am 43!!!  Today's breakfast consisted of melon balls, an apple, and an egg white.  Lunch was a piece of celery with my homemade guacamole on it and 3 tbs. of dried fruit w/pumpkin seeds.  Dinner consisted of 4 oz. of b/s chicken breast and steamed broccoli.  Snack was 18 grapes.  I have also been taking Zzz every night 60 mins. before bedtime and I am consistently getting between 8-10 hours of sleep!  Advocare and Becky are quickly becoming indispensable to me!!!!  On the gardening front, my cucumbers (both the climbers and the bush ones) are starting to pop through the soil, as well as the peas and 2 of my tomato varieties.  I picked my first ripe strawberries today.  Those are part of my breakfast tomorrow!!  Nothing like garden fresh fruit!  Tomorrow's post will include a picture of my rose bush (the pink one has SEVERAL roses on it~gorgeous!)....

Day 4~Monday..... also day 4 of no smoking :)

Loads of energy still.  Last night was a bad night due to unwanted phone calls in the middle of the night, but thanks to Oasis from Advocare, the stress and tired feelings went away.  Did 3 hours of gardening today, putting in my rose garden and fencing.  Breakfast was Oasis and Spark and oatmeal with dried berries and almonds in it.  Lunch was a cucumber, some almonds, and a hard boiled egg for protein.  Dinner consisted of tilapia cooked on the grill using hickory charcoal~yummy, steamed peas, and romaine lettuce with balsamic vinegar on the side.  I took my 5 omegaplex at dinner time and my 3 fiber pills 30 mins. before breakfast.  Feeling great!!!!  I am NEVER hungry! But I do force myself to eat or the 24 day challenge is not going to work the way it is supposed to.  Need the calories for my metabolism to get--and then stay--in gear.  Trying my Flexbelt for the first time tonight, as it arrived in the mail today.  I'll tell you how my abs feel tomorrow.

Bringing you all up to date.... Days 2 and 3 of 24 day challenge

I missed posting for the last 2 days.  Doing, and feeling, absolutely fabulous on the 24 day challenge.  The energy level I have feels like I'm a teenager again.  I found out through my friend and advocare advisor that I was doing part of the program wrong.  I was taking the pre-meal pills and those don't start until the 11th day.  Thank you for catching that so quickly, Becky!!!!  Also, I needed to be taking 4-6 of the Omegaplex with dinner.  So all is corrected now.  For the past 2 days, B-L-D has pretty much been the same so I'll condense.  Breakfast=fiber drink, fresh fruit consisting of melon balls, apple, and canteloupe, advocare Oasis drink~yummy blueberry flavor.  Lunch=trail mix, dried berries, hard boiled egg, advocare Spark (fruit punch flavor).  Dinner=steamed peas, dried apricot, romaine lettuce w/tomatoes, and chicken breast. And water, water, water, water,.... all throughout the day.  Day 2 I babysat for a 10, 5, 8 month, and 2 month all at the same time and cleaned the house while I was doing that.  Then I came home and gardened, which included mulching and laying soil beds, so heavy lifting. Day 3, I walked a mile and rode my bike a mile, gardened some more.  Still waiting for my Flexbelt to get here.  Should be any day.  Today's fish day as I am going to strive for fish or tuna 3 times per week.

Since weight loss journey began, STATS SO FAR:    Down 19 lbs. and 2 pant sizes.

Since advocare 24 day started:  STATS SO FAR:  Down 2 1/2 lbs. in 3 days!!!  Energy level thru the roof!!!!!

OK, NOW I'M ARMED AND READY......

Wii Fit... check
Advocare 24 day challenge... check
Flexbelt for abs.... check
Bike.... check
iPod Shuffle... check
Motivation.... check
Happy.... YOU BET!

I am sooo BEYOND motivated now!!!  I can't wait to get bikini beach body ready!!!  Told you 2011 was my year!!!  LOVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST RIGHT NOW!!!!