Advocare - 24 Days Later

Brian and I survived our Advocare 24 Day Challenge!
 

I am so proud of our final results!

Brian lost 12 pounds and 5 inches!

I lost 4 pounds and 5 and 1/2 inches (I saw a greater number of pounds lost on a previous Challenge, but since I have been eating clean, my diet really didn't change a great deal).

As much as I loved the results shown on the scale, and the results felt in the way my clothes fit, I most enjoyed the results that came in the form of energy gained!


Over the past two years, Brian has lost a total of over 50 pounds!
 

Summer 2012                                            Summer 2014

 

 There are no words for how proud I am of this man!





A Typical Day on the Challenge

 

Wake up and Workout

30 minutes before Breakfast

Spark + Catalyst + Thermoplus

Breakfast Options (within an hour of waking)

• Egg, Turkey Bacon, Whole Wheat English Muffin
• Whole Wheat English Muffin, 2 Tablespoons Natural Peanut Butter, banana
• Oatmeal, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup Almond Milk, 1/4 cup slivered almonds
• Advocare Meal Replacement Shake   
• Egg White Veggie Omelet

Snack Options

• Rice Cake with 1 Tablespoon Peanut Butter
• Fruit
• Handful of Raw Almonds
• Spinach Shake (Sounds gross. Tastes incredible. Try It. I Dare Ya)
• Banana and Nut Butter
• Edamame

30 minutes before lunch

• Spark + Catalyst + Thermoplus

 Lunch Options

• Leftovers from dinner the previous night (see Dinner options)
• Salad with grilled meat
• Canned tuna fish, Olive Oil Mayonnaise, Triscuits, apple
• Chicken Salad
• Advocare Meal Replacement Bar
• Panera's Power Chicken Hummus Bowl
• Chick fil A Grilled Market Salad

Snack Options

• Carrots and hummus
• Apple and 1 Tablespoon Peanut Butter
• Frozen Grapes dipped in Spark
• Garlicky Roasted Chickpeas

 

30 minutes before dinner

• Thermoplus + Catalyst

Dinner Options

• Rice Bowl (with brown rice)
• Clean Crockpot Turkey Chili
• Grilled Salmon, Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower, Butternut Squash
• Salad with Grilled Lean Meat
• Egg Sandwich - Egg and Turkey Bacon on Whole Wheat English Muffin
• Baked Chicken Fajitas
• Lettuce Wrap Tacos 
• Turkey Meatballs and Spaghetti Squash
• Tuna Avocado Boats
• Lettuce Wrap Turkey Burger

 After Dinner Snack

• Chunky Monkey Smoothie
• Frozen Banana Bites
• Fruit

Four Most Commonly Asked Questions

 

1. Can you really not have coffee/wine/soda/fried chicken/etc.?

No. You really can't. Prove it to yourself that you can go 24 days without said vice. You can do it, I promise. I promise, promise. Don't be the person who sacrifices energy and weight loss and amazing results because you "can't live without ______."

 

2. Do I have to workout?

Nope. But you should. You will be taking supplements that increase metabolism and enhance energy, it would be a shame to waste that. Plus, Scandal is on a hiatus, the winner of American Idol has been announced, so hit the road, Jack! You'll be glad you did.

 

3. I don't eat vegetables, or salad, or fruit. In fact, healthy food makes me twitch. Can I still do the Challenge?

You can. I challenge you to try something new everyday. My meat and potatoes hunk of a husband now asks for roasted green beans, hummus, and couscous. I know, it shocks my socks off, too. He swore those things out of his diet before trying them. Now, he's hooked. You'll be surprised how your tastes change over time and how you will begin to crave good-for-you-foods over less healthy options.

 

4. I don't have time to cook/I don't know how to cook. What do I do?

I have found the most success comes with a great planning. This applies to the Challenge also. Brian and I planned our weekly meals on Sundays. We cooked in bulk so we would have leftovers for lunch the next day. If that option is not available, Advocare offers conveniences that allow you to stick to the plan while on the go. Two choices are the Meal Replacement Shake and  Meal Replacement Bar. The only caution I have with those, is that they aren't sustainable indefinitely. Advocare promotes a healthy lifestyle so Day 25 is no different than Day 10 or Day 24. Rely on these if necessary as a convenience (hello baseball season!), but don't let your entire diet subsist of only bars and shakes.

 

I found Pinterest to be my best friend while on the Challenge. I didn't have time to reinvent the (meal) wheel. While I was never one to copy others' homework in school, this has been different. I decided to copy off the smartest, most fit, most successful and mimic their actions and cook their recipes. Do it just like they did it. Although, it's clear Brian found some better sources since he yielded even better results on the final test!  

 

Now that we are finished with the Challenge, I have indulged some. A girl can only go so long without a bowl of birthday cake ice cream! But, mostly, I am trying to adhere to the healthy habits created over the past 24 days - clean eating, working out, and taking supplements.

Tools for Success, click here
This website contains a 24 Day Challenge Guide, a Fitness Assessment, and instructions for downloading the 24 Day Challenge App

To see what great results await you, click here!
Email me at Jennifergbell@gmail.com