Jump Starting

We've all been there. We dive head first into our weight loss. The timeline looks something like this.

Day 1- Bound out of bed put on brand new gym clothes (because you can't workout unless you have new clothes). Lunch is packed with clean wholesome food. Cutting out that soda cold turkey.

Day 2- Don't quite jump out of bed because you are so sore. Lunch is packed because you took advice from others and meal prepped. Still not wanting that Diet Coke because you have goals!

Day 3- Today is much like yesterday. Still sore but pushed through. Today though, it seems like everyone was having a diet coke.

Day 4- No bounding out of bed. You are sore, tired and you convince yourself it is your "rest day". Today everyone is drinking Diet Coke while eating burgers and fries. Yummmm burgers and fries.

Day 5- You step on the scale. You think to yourself, I feel good. I feel lighter. The scale says +2. Seriously I gained weight?!?! How does that even happen? So today you partake in the burgers and fries. Because well you just can't lose weight.

Day 6- My body can't lose weight. I don't care. Eat all the foods!!!!

Day 7- Ugh I really need to get my eating under control. I need to go to the gym.

Does this cycle sound familiar?

I know this is how my life was.

I would do great but as soon as I didn't see results I would quit. Then I found a plan that would allow me to jump start my weight loss. I could eat real nutrient dense foods. I wasn't starving myself. I never felt deprived. I was feeding my body and taking supplements for what I was missing.

My cravings went away. I felt better. I slept better. My workouts improved and my strength woh I was increasing my weights it seemed like every week.

I also found success. I was losing weight. I was losing inches. My clothes were fitting better.

This is what I had been looking for. It wasn't a magic pill. I still had to put the work in. But I was seeing results. That one thing we all crave when we start our weight loss journey.

I want you to see results too. I want you to feel success. I want you to end this cycle.

Which one will it be? I'm here ready to help.

www.advocare.com/130638487

Holiday Weight Gain

No no no Tiger not those kind of gains. I'm talking about the candy jar, candy platter, cookie and fudge kind of gains.

Ahh yes, the holidays. An absolutely amazing time of year where food flows like lava from a volcano and if grandma doesn't think you have eaten enough she will stack more on your plate amazing time of year.

But what do you do if you are on a weight loss journey?

Can we all go to an island where we avoid the holiday food stuffings and keep on going with out journeys?

Anybody out there have an island we can borrow? No, well there goes that idea.

So how do you make it through the holidays and not lose all the work you have put in the other 9 months?

MODERATION MODERATION MODERATION MODERATION

Oh and don't quit your meal plan and your work out schedule.

If you are looking for a structured plan the Advocare 24 Day Challenge is a great way to keep your meals in check and continues with the structure you have the other 9 months out of the year.  Shoot me an e-mail if you want more info, I would love to help you not have post holiday blues.

I'm participating in the boot camp at our gym. It is a you vs you challenge. No better competition than yourself.

So I will leave you with this parting thought.

Fitness Friday- 24 Day Challenge Completed

Fitness Friday Link Up with Aubrey

My challenge is over. Quite frankly I can of forget that I am on a challenge during the max phase because it is my normal routine. Once the cleanse is over I fall back into my routine of normal supplements. That isn't a bad thing by any means. The cleanse is where I see the most change because I tend to become lax in my eating and it jump starts me back on the train.

www.advocare.com/130638487

I haven't had a chance to do any measurements this week. Harvest has started so my nights and mornings are a tad more hectic. Plus being done with the challenge means I can get back on the scale.

Now that is a double edge sword...

I've done so good not obsessing over the scales movements up and down. The couple ounces here, a pound or two there. It was an obsession and quite frankly not one I am too excited about getting back on. However, I do want to check in and see where it is at. But I'm afraid if I step on it once it is all down hill from there. Kind of like when I have that one cookie...

I'm working tomorrow (yay harvest) and Sunday will be catch up day. Hope you all have a fabulous Friday!

Results!

24 day challenge results

Megan
Total Inches Lost- 17.5
Total Pounds Lost- 11
Feeling- Amazing

Mom
Total Inches Lost- 14.5
Total Pounds Lost- 4
Feeling- Can't wait to do it again!

Want to feel better about yourself, get healthy and have more energy. The 24 Day Challenge is a great place to start. I would love to help you become the best version of you!

Source- Pinterest

Day 24

Last day! Seriously the last day! This challenge has been just that a challenge but I think I kicked butt. I will say having the accountability of this blog, tracking my food in MFP and having the team support made it possible.

Food Choices

Breakfast- Sausage links

Lunch- Chicken cutlets. I bought some on Saturday night and have been letting them marinade in italian dressing and pulling them out and cooking them as needed. So easy and so delicious.

Supper- Pork Loin with a few mashed potatoes.

Snacks- Peanut butter and I did have a few ready bake chocolate chip cookies

Water- 172 BOOM!!!

Exercise- The gym was closed due to weather (I had a snow day from work as well) so no 2 a day :( but I did play with Reagan and clean.

Will post results soon!!

Day 23

Today was a bad day. Like bad. But I wouldn't be honest with myself if I didn't record it.

Food Choices

Breakfast- Amazing Chobani strawberry bowl

Lunch- Almond crusted chicken. Broccoli, Then the down hill spiral started. I had some ranch with my chicken and I was still hungry so I had a scoop of peanut butter.

Supper- Matt wanted steak so we had steak and I had some potatoes. Along with an ice cream bar :(. Also for whatever reason, I got into the peanut m & m's and COULD NOT STOP!

Snacks- Strawberries, strawberry almonds and fun size m & m's and snickers. I was on a chocolate binge and just couldn't be stopped.

Water- 50oz yea like I said, crappy crappy day

Exercise- Spin sculpt in the morning. I should have gone to the evening class as well if I was going to eat like that!

I had a bad day. I could see exactly what I was doing and I did it anyways. However, one bad day does not take away from all the good that I have done so far. Life goes on and I just make better choices the next day.

Day 22

I feel like I should always give a preface to the day that I am blogging about. Sadly, I have nothing.

Food Choices

Breakfast- OMG let me tell you about the amazingness that is my breakfast. A, a girl I work out with shared this awesomness with me and I just have to share it with you! Her version of the power bowls from Panera. This one has a cup of Chobani greek yogurt, 3 sliced strawberries, 24 almonds (I put mine in the bullet mixer and ground them up) and a drizzle of honey. This amazingness has 356 calories, 17g of fat, 25 grams of carbs and wait for it, 29 grams of protein! Ahh so freaking delicious!

Lunch- 2 of my BBQ chicken wraps and broccoli.

Supper-  Breakfast for supper. 2 fried eggs, ham and a slice of cheese. Hit the spot on this cold night!

Snacks- Blue Diamond Strawberry Almonds, where have you been all my life?

Please ignore the dirty dishes in the sink, bleh I need a maid!

I also had my trusty apple and peanut butter

Water- 135oz Another great day!

Exercise- Monday 2 a days!

Day 21

Super Bowl Sunday! But...we didn't have a party to go to so there was no food to prepare myself to avoid which is always way easier.

Food Choices

Breakfast- I made french toast for Reagan and myself. I also had sausage to get protein in so it wouldn't be a complete carby meal.

Lunch- 2 smoked sausage links

Supper- Another nice part about going to my parent's house for supper, mom is on the challenge as well so she was going to make something good! Chicken tacos it was. Delicious!

Snacks- On the weekends I struggle to get my snacks in since I'm not usually on a structured schedule like I am at work.

Water- 114

Exercise- Reagan and I played and played and I chased and chased

Day 19

5 more days. Bring it!

Food Choices

Breakfast- Berry Shake

Lunch- We splurged at work and got Chipotle. I'm sure I've mentioned it before but this is one of my favorite places to eat. The food is good, clean and the french fry temptation isn't there. Although their chips, oh their chips. I got my usual, chicken bowl with a little brown rice, extra veggies, corn salsa, a little cheese and guacamole.

Supper- We had a girls night at J's house (gym owner J). So there was a ton of snack and finger food. I took my broccoli but I mixed it up and had broccoli, green beans and peas. Yum! I had a bowlful of that and then a ton of fruit. So stinking good!

Snacks- Apples and peanut butter

Exercise- Spin/lift in the morning

Water- 123.5

Day 18

Less than a week to go on the challenge.  I can do this I can do this I can do this!

Food Choices

Breakfast- 3 of my breakfast eggs rolls. I'm almost out and I need to find some time to make some more!

Lunch- Matt had put ham in the crock pot the night before so I had leftovers and some of my broccoli.

Supper- Swim lesson night so I got an antipasta salad from a local pizza shop and got Matt pizza. They make their own dressing which is so darn good! It is an oil and vinegar but so delicious. In college, I would want this for Friday night suppers on the weekends I came home because nothing compared to it!

Snacks- Good ole apples and peanut butter

Exercise- Thursday morning spin/lift along with parent child swim.

Water-  98oz eh

Day 17

Only 1 week left of this challenge. Seriously, I feel so much better in general. I'm excited to see my numbers this week. I won't know them until Friday due to having to move my personal training around.

Food Choices
Breakfast- Berry Shake

Lunch- My BBQ Chicken Egg Rolls. These things are so dang good and easy! I also had a spring mix salad with Olive Garden dressing.

Lunch today

Right after I made them.

Supper- I came home from working out to ham in the crock pot. Matt also made mashed potatoes, gravy and texas toast. I took my fibo trim and carb ease and indulged a little in the potatoes and texas toast. He knows I don't eat a lot of potatoes and bread anymore but he was being sweet and was so proud of himself. Plus, he also did laundry, folded it and put it away.

Snacks- Apples and peanut butter

Exercise- Wednesday two a day!!! Total body in the morning and total body at night. J pushed us hard at the night class. I can tell I'm getting stronger because of things I couldn't do before I can do now. Plus I've been taking the Bio-Tune supplement to help with my knees. Volleyball, basketball and softball were not kind on my knees. Neither is being overweight so this supplement helps with reducing inflammation.

Water- 123oz

Day 16

Downhill slope continues on this challenge.

Food Choices-
Breakfast- Berry Shake. Everyday I think about adding some of the frozen fruit to the shake but I am usually running behind so I just grab my shaker cup and go. Someday I will remember, hopefully.

Lunch- The last bit of chili that I made Saturday that didn't make it into the freezer bags. I think chili is one of those things that gets better over time. It is good when you first make it but leave it in the fridge for a few days and yum yum. I also had a knocker from supper the night before. If I would have been thinking I could have done a chili dog sans the bread.

Supper- Usually Tuesday night is the only night (besides Friday but who counts that as a weeknight?) I come straight home from work. I have class on Monday and Wednesday till 6, Thursday is swim lessons so Tuesday is the day that I get some cleaning or just hang with Reagan time. Well, since I have been losing weight and inches (because the inches come off faster than the weight) I have accumulated a bunch of clothes that don't fit and I just don't wear. I had sold some and planned on meeting the girl in the nearby town. I knew I wouldn't have time to cook because I also had a nail appointment so I grabbed Wendy's on the way home. I had a cheeseburger deluxe without the bun and Reagan and I split her kids french fry. I was even worse and had a diet coke. I am not beating myself up over this. I could have at something better but I needed easy and this was easy.

Snacks- Apples and peanut butter. I'm pretty sure I couldn't live without peanut butter.

Exercise- Non existent today besides some steps while watching tv. I had planned on getting up and going to spin/sculpt but slept through my alarm. I miss the gym, I miss my friends at the gym and I miss the way I felt when I would get done with a workout. This cold crappy weather needs to exit pronto!

Water- 102oz

Day 15

After being snowed in for 2 days I have never been more excited to actually go to work on Monday. I had cooked most of the weekend so I had plenty of meals ready for the week.

Food Choices-
Breakfast- 2 of my breakfast egg rolls (sausage, egg, peppers, onions rolled up in an egg roll and baked)

Lunch- Whole wheat spaghetti pasta with sauce and 2 small chicken breasts. I was dying for some pasta and this tasted so good!

Supper- Matt was at the local grocery store and they sell homemade all beef knockers. So stinking good!

Exercise- Since the weather and roads still weren't the best the gym was still closed. I was tired of not getting anything in so I went to my parents and walked on the treadmill and climbed their stairs to get my floors climbed. On my fitbit app it says I need to climb at least 10 flights of stairs a day. This is hard to do because I don't have stairs at work and home. So anytime I get the opportunity to climb stairs I jump on it!

Water- 120oz

Day 13 & 14

I have been really good about doing each day. However, this weekend was so uneventful since we were snowed in. Exciting events did happen this weekend as I did some awesome cooking and made some great items that I could throw in the freezer and grab quick. I will be sharing the recipes. The best part, they are so easy!

Food Choices
Breakfast
Saturday- Berry Shake
Sunday- Family breakfast of Eggs and sausage

Lunch
Saturday- Brats and Green Beans
Sunday- Chili

Dinner
Saturday- Homemade chili. I made a crock pot of chili, nothing better than filling the house with the smell of chili on a day when you are snowed in. It was so delicious!
Sunday- My baked egg roll chicken wraps. (Another thing I made this weekend, super easy and super delicious!)

Snacks- Apples, peanut butter, chocolate shake muffins

Water intake- 100oz each day.

Exercise- Chasing and constantly picking up after my very active 1 year old. Best.Exercise.Ever

Being snowed in this weekend was a bit rough. I could have put more effort into working out but it also felt good to relax and give my body a rest.

Day 12- Halfway

I know this day is technically halfway but I count halfway as being when I am done with the cleanse phase.

Food Choices-
This day was a huge struggle for me. I took the day off work because I wanted to get some cleaning done at home (ie take down the Christmas tree, don't judge!) Then because I was in the cleaning mood I didn't take the time to snack or eat at normal times. Excuses, yes but I'm just putting it out there that it does happen.

Breakfast- Berry Shake

Lunch- We were told we were going to have a nasty snow storm so I wanted to get to the store. Since I was out I ran through McDonald's quick and grabbed 2 hamburgers. I ate just the hamburger part. I wanted to be able to eat on the run and Subway is just too hard to do that. Well for me anyways!

Supper- We had friends come and visit. Matt braved the cold and grilled hamburgers and bratwurst. I made some of my green beans in the oven and we also had french fries. Our friends loved the green beans! I had 2 bratwurst and green beans. I did have a few french fries but not before I took my carb ease. Seriously, there is always a bottle in the bathroom and one in my purse. I never leave home without it.

Exercise- Does the cleaning count? I missed spin/sculpt in the morning because I was exhausted from the week.

Water- 80oz

Day 11- Starting Phase 2 Max Phase

Done with the cleanse. Done with the fiber drink! Ahh I feel so much better! It is amazing how much better you feel when you really focus on not shoveling crap into your mouth and eating only good clean, whole, unprocessed foods!

Before I started this challenge I was using the MNS packets. I had opted to try the MNS C for the maximum appetite control. Let me tell you, this has been huge in helping me not piece between meals (well besides my snacks!) There are times that I forget to take my snack because I'm not hungry because of effect of these packets. I will probably go back to the MNS 3 when I start another challenge and continue in that rotation until I get to where I don't need the maximum appetite control.

Food Choices- I know you can start adding in a few of the items back into your diet but I still limit my carbs and dairy. Limiting carbs works for me and with my PCOS it actually is recommended.

Breakfast- Berry Shake

Lunch- Our operations manager decided to buy pizza for everyone. Believe me the pizza sounded good but I knew it would make me feel blah so I ordered a salad instead. I still got to smell the pizza but didn't have to mark down those calories!

Supper- Well supper brought the same temptation of pizza as lunch did. I ordered the boneless wings and a side salad. However, I wasn't able to resist the breadsticks and had 2 of them. I did take my carb ease before eating the meal so I felt slightly less guilty.

Snacks- Apples and peanut butter along with the cuties clementines. Love those things because they are so easy to peel and help satisfy the sweet cravings I get.

Exercise- Spin/lift in the morning. Then we are doing parent child swim lessons at the YMCA. Holding my chunk of a child for a half hour sure is a bit of workout. This was also the reason we had pizza for supper!

Water intake- 99oz.

Day 10-Cleanse Results

After 9 days on the cleanse, I was down a total of 5lbs and 8 inches. Any weight loss during the cleanse phase is a complete bonus.

Last day of the cleanse. I feel so much lighter. My belly doesn't feel so bloated. To put it simply, I just feel good!

Food Choices-
Breakfast- I planned on having a berry shake but walked off and forgot it. Thankfully, I had a few chocolate ones in my cupboard at work. It wasn't my favorite to drink. Wayyy to chocolately for me. Old Megan would have skipped breakfast and then wondered why I was hungry and feeling sluggish. So win for me!

Lunch- Last day of the quinoa stir fry. This is kind of a big deal for me since I normally don't eat left overs and for this many days in a row! Yes it did get old but it was so easy to just reach into the fridge and grab my lunch and go. This food prep stuff is growing on me! Finished off the rest of my berry bowl from Kroger, blueberries, black berries and strawberries.

Supper- Nothing sounded good so we went with the quick staple of eggs and sausage.

Snacks- Chocolate shake muffin along with some peanut butter. My favorite apple, honeycrisp and peanut butter as well.

Exercise- Today was a 2 a day. Started with a butt kicking personal training session with J. Today showed me just how strong I have gotten. I've always been a strong girl (farm girl right here!) but when the weight piles on you don't feel strong. Today, I felt strong. That evening was a total body class and even though I was tired I pushed through.

Water- 133oz BOOM! Still not quite where I want to be but a dang good effort!

Day 9

One more day, only one more day of the fiber drink!!!

Food Choices
Breakfast- A rather odd combo this morning for breakfast. I thought I had seen we had ham in the fridge so I was going to make an egg and ham omelet. Well, apparently I was seeing things because my omelet ended up being 2 eggs and 15 slices of pepperoni. It was good and had a bit of a kick which was nice.

Lunch- Day 2 of the stir fry. I also finished off the spring mix and the pineapple.

Supper- Matt got a ham from the local store and put it in the crockpot. It was delicious! However, he didn't make any vegetable and by the time I got home it was ready. It happens and I just have to make up for it.

Snacks- Apple, no peanut butter though. Then a chocolate shake muffin with peanut butter at night.

Water intake- 99oz. 1 step forward and 2 steps back

Exercise- Spin/Sculpt for an hour. I love riding my bike but spin always intimidated me. So glad that I tried it because I love it!

Weigh in and measurements tomorrow!

Day 8

Into the homestretch of the cleanse phase! Unfortunately, that means the dreaded fiber drink is back. However, mixing it in my bullet mixer makes it not so gritty and much easier to take.

Food Choices-
Breakfast- Berry MRS

Lunch- Sunday night I decided that I was going to start to clean out the freezer in the kitchen and use up some of bags of veggies and such I had in there. I found a bag of Bird's Eye Stir Fry Mix. I had already started cooking chicken breast. Unfortunately, my chicken to stir fry ratio was a bit off so I added some onion as well. It did smell amazing with some soy sauce and stir fry seasoning. Yum! I also made some quinoa. By the time I was done I had enough for 3 separate meals. Makes lunch packing uber easy! I also went to Kroger's and container of their spring mix salad. I had a bottle of the Olive Garden Italian dressing at work already so I just used that. The pineapple looked amazing so I bought some of that as well.

Supper- Matt made corn for his lunch and there was plenty left for supper so I had that along with 2 bratwurst. Exciting, no, but I got my protein in!

Snacks- I picked up some honey crisp apples while at Kroger so I one of those along with some peanut butter. At night I had a chocolate shake muffin with peanut butter.

Water intake- kicked butt in this, 125oz. Still not enough but progress is progress.

Exercise- 2 a day! Total body for 45 minutes in the morning. We did circuits which usually end up being harder than they initially look. At night an hour total body.

Day 7

Tomorrow starts the dreaded fiber drink, 3 more days just 3 more days.

Food Choices

Breakfast. This morning Matt got us McDonald's. Now I know, you are thinking seriously McDonald's? Well he got me 2 sausage mcmuffin with egg. I ate the meat and the egg on both of them. No cheese and no bread. Best choices, no. Could I have made my own, yes. Sometimes though it is nice to be treated.

Lunch- Chicken breast chopped up with marinara sauce and onions. This is so quick and easy and is basically my fix for the pasta craving because I get to use marinara sauce.

Supper- Hamburger and corn. I know corn is a starch but we made it for Reagan and I didn't want it to go to waste so I ate it.

Snacks- I had a shake muffin with some peanut butter.

Water intake. So far I am at 66oz. I'm about to go to bed so that may be the best it gets. Water intake on the weekend is an area I struggle with. I'm not sure how to improve this, anyone have any suggestions?

Exercise- well maybe I should put lack of...

Tomorrow is the start of a new week and I'm ready to make it awesome!!!