Maybe you are reading this right now, with similar feelings I was having at that time in my life.  Why am I always so tired?  Why do I get stressed over the littlest things?  I don’t feel comfortable in anything I wear.  I’m not really happy with my reflection in the mirror.  Where is my motivation?  I don’t have T-I-M-E to do anything for myself.  I know I’m a great mom, but I want to contribute MORE.  Where has my career gone?  Will I ever get it back?

Don’t get me wrong…I was happy with my life, I’m just not sure I was happy with the way I was participating in it.  I knew I deserved more, that I could do more, and ultimately BE more.

I have forever struggled with my weight.  I was always a chubby kid and got to sport the nickname “Cheesepuff” throughout middle school.  You know, fluffy and round…cute right?  I would find a way to lose some weight (not in the healthiest of ways), and then of course gain it all right back.  On my wedding day I remember feeling awesome weighing in at 112 lbs, and having to get my dress taken in again, and again, because this NO CARB thing sure was working!  As with everything I did, it only worked for so long.  In came the comfort of my marriage, stress from job changes,  and of course growing my two children and I was now hanging out in the 150s.  Not to get hung up on weight, because I have learned now that it really is just a number…but at that point in time it literally weighed heavy on me because I knew it represented giving up on myself.

If you have been my friend, or followed my blog, you know my story by now.  If you are new, you can rewind back to exactly two years ago when I wrote my first ever post on this blog about the 10 lbs I lost in 24 days.  Yes, that was such an exciting part of what came as a result of my decision to take the 24 Day Challenge, but what has since transpired has been pretty life changing for my family.

– My husband and I have gone on to lose 90lbs together.  90lbs!!!!  Greg is a new man…a healthier man!  And because of this I know I will have him in my life a heck of a lot longer.  He is HEALTHY.  The healthiest he has ever been.

– My family knows how to eat now.  Well better yet, this mama knows how to COOK now!  Gone are the days of butter and cheese slathered on everything.  Microwaved foods, diet drinks, overly processed and packaged items…not in this house!!  Sugar is a foreign concept too, and our fridge is overflowing with bright, colorful, nutritious and fresh ingredients.  Simple, home cooked meals are on the table every night!  Talk about saving money on how much food we used to order in.

–  Energy!  Oh the annoying, over the top energy! I sometimes wish I could just sit still and do nothing but I can’t!  Say  goodbye to the days of TV watching, nap-taking, and boredom.  Well I wouldn’t say I was ever really bored, I think I just found ways to keep myself busy.  And that’s all it ever was….now my time is PURPOSEFUL!  My kids have a crazy lady for a mommy and they love it! lol

– I exercise…and I mean I REALLY exercise.  I wake up at the butt-crack of dawn every single day (there’s that energy again) and get myself to the gym!  No excuses, and it’s go time.  I workout hard.  Any frustrations that could have been leftover from the day before, are now gone and I get a fresh and invigorating start to my day.  I also get biceps too! lol  See how this is a win/win?  This is where I need to give a huge shoutout to AdvoCare’s Performance Elite line…game changer!

- I have wonderful friends.  New friends!  INSPIRING friends!!   AdvoCare has brought THE MOST AMAZING people into my life.  It honestly brings me to tears as I am typing this having name after name run through my mind that I know now through this adventure.  Not to mention people from the past, that I have grown close with because we came together in the name of good health.  There aren’t enough words to sum up the greatness that I am surrounded by.  When you find others that share your interest in being the best versions of themselves all you do is lift one another up.  It’s the most incredible part of all of this.  Hands down.

– Income.  There I said it.  Yes…I do make an income for doing this.  It’s actually an incredible one, that most days I feel undeserving of.  Did you read above about all those people I love….I literally get paid to help THEM do their very best.  This opportunity wasn’t ever my intention, and never in a million years did I think I would end up in Direct Sales.  Say what you will about this type of business model….no wait….DON’T.  Unless you have experienced it for yourself, you will never understand the respect that comes with being a part of a company like AdvoCare.  They always say that this company allows ordinary people to do extraordinary things and that is exactly what it does…

 –  TIME with my boys.   Yes, I was already a Stay-at-Home mom when I did my first 24 Day Challenge, but I have always felt like I was on a deadline.  A confusing deadline.  Will I open up my Interior Design business again?  Will I eventually have to go work for someone else?  How in the world would I go back to the 9-5 schedule?  What other kind of business could I do from home?  I really don’t ever want to work for some else again, but I also don’t want to deal with the headaches that come with running your own business.  In enters AdvoCare….my unexpected answer to ALL of this.  I found something that provides me with comparable income to a 40+ hour work week however it requires extremely part-time hours which still allows for full-time Mom hours.    I am ALWAYS with my boys…we actually spend a little too much time together lol.  I wouldn’t trade this precious time with them for anything…and well now, I don’t have to.

 – A stronger marriage.  Greg and I have always been close, but I felt like he got the short end of the stick after we had kids.  For all the reasons I have mentioned above, my life had changed.  That confident, working, and energetic wife now felt like she was living in yoga pants, lost her spunk (was just REALLY tired), didn’t feel attractive carrying around 30 extra lbs, and wasn’t really sure of her identity anymore.  I know my purpose was to be a great mom…I had that covered since I was spending every second of my day just doing things for them.  Even if we did find the energy to go on a date night, I would end up upset by the end of the night telling Greg just how different life felt for me.  He still got to get dressed up, go to work, socialize with adults, eat lunch in peace….I just felt like I was holding these things over his head because I was jealous I didn’t get to do any of that anymore.  We never fought over these things, I just let these thoughts take over my head and felt resent for things that had nothing to do with HIM and everything to do with ME.  Let’s just say all those thoughts are a thing of the past.  They always say happy wife, happy life right?  You have to work on yourself first ladies!  Your life only gets better when you do!

- PURPOSE.  Above all…my family is and always will be my entire purpose.  Nothing over the last 2 years changed in regards to that.  However, my drive comes from a different place now.  We can only rise when we help lift others, and that has become my fuel.  To lend a hand in someone else’s success and confidence will pay you in ways no “job” ever could.  This whole experience begins for yourself, but eventually becomes about helping everyone else.  If I can play any role in a healthier and happier you, I can’t think of anything more rewarding than that.  I’ve watched countless lives change as a result of so many of us sharing our own struggles and successes.  That is purpose at it’s finest…live your life to be the best example you can be, and hope you can can create that same desire in others.  This starts from my family and extends to yours and will be what continues to motivate me to be a better person.

I share this all with you because it’s my story, and it’s worth sharing each part of it in hopes that someone else may connect with one little piece of what I wrote.  I needed to see someone else’s changes before I knew I could do it, and that I wanted them badly enough for myself.  Excuses were easy to make, being comfortable was easy to do, so I knew staying the same was not going to be an option but it was going to take some work.

Believe it or not I don’t really believe in New Year’s resolutions.  Usually those come in the form of a list, you dive in head first, with excitement, and give it your all….at the beginning.  If I would have listed out,  lose 30 lbs, make only healthy foods for my family, exercise daily, quit drinking diet soda, stop drinking coffee, make new friends, find new interests, strengthen our marriage, travel more, earn an income for our family, stop watching television, increase my energy, be a better mom….PHEW I would have been exhausted, overwhelmed, and feeling a bit defeated before I even started.  We all know that goals without plans are just wishes.

Starting somewhere small is perfect…just START.  January 5th is going to be a starting point for hundreds and hundreds of others who are ready to commit to doing something a little different this year.   Of course you can jump in with both feet, grab a 24 Day Challenge and come join us for our biggest group challenge to date…but I want to hear your story first if you are willing to share it.  E-mail me, message me on Facebook, reach out to me on Instagram, leave me a comment here….maybe weight loss isn’t your focus, maybe you’re looking to gain some muscle, learn healthy recipes for your family, maybe the idea of some more time with your children is weighing heavy on you, maybe you’re hoping to surround yourself with more positive people in 2015, maybe you are looking to provide an extra source of income for your family, maybe you’re exhausted and could use some energy.  Maybe you don’t realize you need or want any of those things….originally, I didn’t either, but to know they now exist for me all under one AdvoCare roof has been eye-opening to say the least.

A year is simply a measure of time, but it’s a way to distinguish a period of memorable occurrences in your life.  That year you were born, that year you graduated high school, that year you went to college, that year you fell in love, that year you got married, that year you had your first child…what if 2015 could be that year that you made a decision that ultimately gave you more years?  More meaningful, healthy, positive, and purposeful years with those that you love the most?  2013 was that year for me.  This year can be YOUR year…all you have to do begin!

Since I had already had great success with the 24 Day Challenge, this new plan wasn’t too far off from what I had learned through my experience with AdvoCare.  I still had to eat clean, I still got to use all my awesome Performance Elite supplements, I just needed to refine what kinds of clean foods I was eating, and how much of each of them I was eating. I will recommend that EVERYONE start with a 24 Day Challenge when they are looking to make some changes.  It certainly benefits weight loss, but even an athlete who is ready to reset and feel their best will benefit from this being their starting point.

The biggest change in the new plan was WEIGHT LIFTING…on my own…in the gym.  Can I just say I have completely, head over heels, fallen in love with going to the gym.  Talk about feeling empowered and inspired ladies…go grab some heavy weights and literally watch your body transform over a short amount of time!   You can’t leave the gym in a bad mood, you just can’t.

So did “changing things up” break me of my plateau?  I would say YES!  Actually even more than I expected for such a short amount of time.  I dropped about 3% in body fat and definitely feel stronger, and can see my body composition changing.  If you follow my new Instagram account you have seen most of these photos since I do frequent updates there, but for those of you who don’t, here are my before and after photos with a  3.5 month difference between the two.

So now what?  I wouldn’t use the word plateau this go around, but I will say I know it’s time to push myself further and continue to make slight changes to what I am doing.  There was a good two months where I felt continuously sore from my workouts.  When that soreness subsided it was a sign that my muscles were getting too used to what I have been doing, so I reached back out to Leah for my second consult.  My new and “improved” plan basically  just increases EVERYTHING….cardio, weights, repetitions, calories, and carbs, oh my!

I have been asked on Instagram to share recipes, workouts, what supplements I’ve been using, how to track macros etc…and since none of those things are something I can sum up in a comment on IG, I wanted to do this post!  Now I always need to preface that I am NOT a professional, I am not a personal trainer, and I am not a certified Nutritionist (even though I do have some curiosity in pursing this), so my advice really isn’t advice at all.  I am just documenting what I have been given, what I have been doing, and what has been yielding my own personal progress in hopes that it helps to keep me accountable while also providing some insight to others who may be looking to do the same.

One of the first questions is….

WHERE SHOULD I START?

If you know me by now, AdvoCare has my heart!   Deciding to do the 24 Day Challenge almost 2 years ago was undoubtedly the best decision I have ever made when it comes to providing overall wellness for myself and my family.  You can say you want to start eating right and exercising all you want, but you need a PLAN and you need a COMMITMENT.  Do you have to do the 24 Day Challenge specifically?  NOPE!  There are certainly other programs out there that could be the jumpstart you need, but I can’t stress enough how important having guidance is.   Do something, and do it for a specific amount of time.  Break bad habits, learn how to eat correctly, challenge yourself, and commit to it and commit to yourself.  Once you have the basics down, and see results, and feel your best you are so much better prepared to challenge yourself further and to make a sustainable lifestyle change.

HOW DO YOU EAT?

Initially I tried counting calories when I was first trying to lose weight, and well that backfired when I tried to fit as many 100 calories packs of Doritos into my day as I could.  Learning to eat real, unprocessed “clean” foods, and eating throughout the day was the game changer.  I have been a “clean eater” for the past two years, but where I needed to fine tune to break my plateau, was learning the right way to balance the clean foods I was eating.  This is where I flipped back to calorie counting, and macro-nutrient counting…only this time I was doing it with healthy foods!  The past 3 months I have been staying between 1500-1600 calories, and around 130g carbs, 150g protein, 45g fats, and tracking this all through the MyFitnessPal app.  This was to help me burn fat and lean out, but also be able to sustain the type of cardio and weightlifting I was doing.  My new program with Leah has me bumped up to 2000 calories a day, and has me increasing my carbs, protein, & fats steadily each week for the next 3 months.  This is to start building muscle, but also doing it in a way that keeps you lean.  I’m not going to lie, Im a little nervous about it and haven’t fully committed yet.  But I will after the holidays!  If you want to get an idea of how to track your macros and where you should be for your goals I HIGHLY recommend checking out iifym.com AND getting a $50 consult from Leah, so she can come up with something specific for you and your goals.

 A lot of people will read what I just wrote and think it sounds overly complicated and a bit too obsessive, but I promise you, once you get the hang of it (and have already mastered your clean eating) you can integrate this in and start to know how you should eat, and how your body responds to it.  I have meals upon meals that are my favorites now and I just keep them in rotation, and know I’m staying within my targets.

I mean really does it look like I’m lacking in fun things to eat?

Also note, I am making all these changes to last me a lifetime.  So do I still have date nights, girls nights, go on vacations, drink wine occasionally, eat all my kids’ Halloween candy?  Yup!  This is what makes you feel like you have forever CHANGED your diet, but you’re not ON a diet.

WHAT KIND OF EXERCISE DO YOU DO?

If you have been reading my blog, you will have probably seen my progression from light cardio & classes at the gym to distance running, then to bootcamp type workouts and now to weight lifting.  They all were wonderful for what they were throughout this process.  You definitely have to find something you love doing!!  I will say weight lifting has surpassed my expectations and has become something I consider a hobby now, because I thoroughly enjoy doing it.  I know that gym can be intimidating so Im happy to share what I have been doing with you if you want to try some of it out for yourself.  Seriously save this image to your phone, look up any exercise that you may not know what it is, and then walk into the gym confidently because you have a PLAN (that you can pull up on your phone and copy and just look like you’re switching songs on your playlist haha)

So here is the deal.  I have been told to start with 45 minutes of fasted cardio 4 mornings a week (meaning on an empty stomach), and to do 30 minute HIIT workouts the other 3 days.  It’s a lot, but Im trying to get myself there.  So far I would realistically say I have been doing 30-40 minutes of cardio to start my workouts.  20-30 minutes of that is on the stairclimber then the next 10 minutes I do sprints on the treadmill.  I figure its combining cardio and HIIT all in one right?  I typically try to burn between 250-300 calories before even starting in on weights.

Then I follow the plan below.  Each exercise I do FIVE sets of 10-12 reps unless otherwise noted to do a different amount.  My last set I always lift to failure (when you can’t possibly do one more).  You will basically want to die, but in the best way possible!

Don’t forget to get some core/ab work in there (you hear that Lauren?!  Yeah I need to listen to this advice too), and of course listen to your body if you need to rest.  Again, Leah can provide you with a plan that is best suited for your goals and the amount of time you have to workout!

WHAT KIND OF SUPPLEMENTS DO YOU TAKE AND WHEN?

Something you don’t know about me is I went through a phase, when I first moved to California, where I was into lifting weights.  It doesn’t even come close to how I feel about it now.  It wasn’t invigorating, I wasn’t seeing that much progress, and it felt like a chore.  Looking back now I know the difference… I wasn’t eating correctly and I didn’t use supplements.  Energy, strength, recovery, and just proven science behind good quality (and safe) supplementation can be the difference between being a good athlete and being a GREAT one.  I feel like a million bucks before my workouts, during them, and after and I know I can give a huge hug to my beloved Performance Elite products for this.

Here is my daily regimen:

Mix the following in a blender bottle-

-1 scoop Fruit Punch Spark

-1 packet BioCharge

-1 scoop Mass Impact

-1/2 scoop IsoPure unflavored protein powder

Add lots of water and ice and shake shake shake!!

Take 2 Catalyst and 2 Muscle Strengths and head out the door, shaker bottle in hand.  Drink some on the way to the gym.  Get on that stairclimber and drink mixture throughout.  Don’t drink it all and when you’re done cardio top off with more water. (Remember this is just what I do, doesn’t mean its necessarily correct lol).

Add in a packet of Rehydrate if you need more flavor and for electrolyte replacement.

I sweat A LOT, so all this liquid drinking leaves me with an empty blender bottle by the end.  As soon as I am done working out I mix up a Muscle Gain protein shake and drink it as Im leaving the gym and have a banana waiting in the car for me.

Get home and eat breakfast and take your multivitamins too (in my case AdvoCare MNS 3-working on getting better about remembering everyday)

More Spark and Catalyst around 3:00pm.  If I had a tough workout- pop a couple of Nighttime Recovery before bed.

Instead of going through each product with you (that’s a whole other post), I have created a bundle with all my favorite products in it.  You can click through them and read about all their awesome benefits and see if any of them sound like something that could help support your workouts and lifestyle.

——-> LAUREN’S FAVORITE PRE/POST WORKOUT SUPPLEMENTS <——-

Whew…that was a long post.  See I go away for a long time, but all I am doing is storing up all this info to come blast you with one big, long, update!  Thanks for hanging in there!  I hope those of you who have asked me questions have found this information helpful. And if you ever have any additional questions definitely shoot me an e-mail, message me on my Facebook page, or say hello on Instagram.

I also need to give a big ole shoutout to the #fitfam on Instagram.  I never realized there were such distinct communities  within the Instaworld, and I am so happy to have squeezed my way into this one.  To wake up each morning and scroll through photo after photo of inspiration, honesty, struggles, motivation, and lots and lots of MUSCLES, I am just so amazed by the positivity, support and drive that I am witnessing on a daily basis.  It makes me smile everyday seeing so many of you working towards a healthier you, and I am proud to be amongst such great company.  Keep on smilin’ and keep on flexin’…I am definitely watching, and I’m beyond inspired!

Have a happy and healthy weekend my friends and as always…thanks for reading!

Ours started on Friday morning when Greg surprised the boys with a day off from work to head to Disneyland as a family.   We had a great morning walking around, saying hello to some of the characters, hopping on a few rides and seeing all the fun Halloween decorations.  We also did a pit stop in Downtown Disney so the boys could build their own cars at RideMakerz.  Think, Build-a-Bear but with car parts.  They were in little boy heaven!  We also had lunch at Rain Forest Cafe which was a first time for them too.  Definitely a fun filled start to the day.

This was all we got for naps, so we spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and playing outside until it was time for Mommy and Daddy to get ready for a date night!

Greg and I headed out a little earlier than we normally do and decided to try a few new places in San Juan Capistrano.  The first place we went was a restaurant called Guapas Tapas, and it was right up our alley.  Craft beers, awesome wine selection (with huge glasses & pours!), small plates that were delicious and a really fun outdoor patio.  After our amazing dinner we hopped across the street to a place called Five Wines.  Seriously….where have you been all my life?!  This is basically everything I love all wrapped up in one spot.  Amazing wine flights, live acoustic music, friendly staff, cool ambiance and decor.  We were smiling from the second we walked in the door and the perma grin never left our faces.  This place will definitely be a regular stop for us!

After we got home we hung out with our neighbors in the driveway for awhile until we all realized we had 8:00am soccer games the next morning so we finally called it a night.

We were a little rushed the next morning and feeling a bit sluggish from the night before, but the cool morning air got us right into soccer mode!  It finally felt like a cloudy Fall morning and the boys were ready to play!  The White Tigers had a great game and Nathan SCORED HIS FIRST GOAL!  We were so proud of him!  Shane got into the spirit of the game too and celebrated with the team!  Don’t worry little buddy it will be your turn soon enough.

After the game we went to the mall so I could pick up my new iPhone 6!  I was afraid I would have to fight off crowds but thankfully I got to bypass the 6 hour long wait line because I preordered online.  The place was a zoo but we got out in no time and were able to grab lunch then head home for naps.  After a few hours of peace and quiet, we went out to grab some Pho to go  We tried a new place called Pho King Way (hilarious right?) and brought it home so I could try out my new Miracle Noodles that I ordered online.  Have you tried these things before?  Zero calories, fat, carbs…everything really and they just take on the flavor of whatever you cook them in.  I will have to say dinner was AWESOME and totally guilt free!

Cleaned up after dinner and went over to our next door neighbor’s house for a dance party!  Their daughter celebrated her birthday the night before and they decided to keep the set up for another night so the neighborhood kids could enjoy it.  They were going crazy, and drawing all over themselves with yellow highlighters.  I’m pretty sure two baths later, the boys would still glow under a black light.  They had a blast though!

Sunday was just filled with a good mix of relaxation and productivity.  I got in some solo gym time in the morning and was excited to sweat out the indulgences of the weekend!

The rest of the day we hung out with the kiddos, watched some football and CLEANED like crazy.  We are talking 5 huge garbage bags full of STUFF that we eliminated from just our downstairs alone.  I’m pretty sure we are borderline hoarders!

We have a super busy week ahead of us and it feels good to start this Monday off clutter free.  We are hosting our very first AdvoCare events this week and one of them is at our house.  Not sure how we are going to fit 15+ of our awesome team members in our family room but we are going for it.  Although Wednesday night is just for some of our So Cal team members, Thursday we are doing an open event.  If you are local, and have been curious as to what this whole AdvoCare thing is all about…we would love to have you join us all.   AdvoCare corporate has seen the growth we have had in this area and is sending out their Sales Manager from Dallas, Texas to come share his knowledge with us and we feel honored to have this opportunity that we also get to share with all of you.  Free Spark for all….so we hope to see you there!

Ok Monday, I’m looking at you.  We had a great weekend, but it’s time to get serious and check off all those to-dos.  Here’s to an awesome week friends!  As always, thanks for stopping by!

If you didn’t read one of my previous posts I quickly mentioned that I had earned an all expenses trip to Naples Florida thanks to AdvoCare.  AdvoCare….that same company I knew so little about a year ago besides it helped Greg and I drop 90 lbs was now sending us both away on a vacation.  Crazy.  I wasn’t sure what to expect, I just knew I was ready to get my Spark in my hand and my toes in the sand.

We arrived at the Fort Meyers airport and immediately felt pampered to see someone standing there with our name on a sign to drive us to the hotel.  I don’t think I have ever had a driver waiting for me at an airport so I thought that was really cool haha.  It set the tone for the entire trip because we were made to feel so special from then on out.   We arrived at the gorgeous Naples Beach Hotel and there were Sarah and Greg greeting us with open arms.  They are two of the people who took me under their Advo-wing and actually ran this incentive trip for our team.  We checked in and got the coolest canvas beach totes with logo beach towels and t-shirts and also a very generous Visa debit card to take care of whatever else we needed while we were there.  Grateful doesn’t even say enough for how we felt.

We were free to do whatever we wanted to for the rest of the day so we walked around the beautiful resort, met up with so many people that I only “knew” online but finally had the privilege of meeting in person, swam in the ocean, ate great food and seriously just did a whole lot of this…

I know you want to see the great food I was talking about too.  Two words for you…Florida Salad.  I could have had this salad for every meal of the trip it was so good!  Doesn’t this just look like a tropical vacation on a plate?

The only planned event we had for that day was a meet and greet reception for the other team leaders and trip earners.  There were 140 people total there and it was so cool to hear how everyone ended up on this trip.  We spent the rest of the night staying up way too late just meeting new friends, laughing, talking and honestly having our eyes opened to this company that I really knew so little about.

The next morning we got ready to take trolley rides into town to have a harbor cruise on the Naples Princess Yacht.  The weather was perfect, the ocean was beautiful, and the homes along the coast were gorgeous!  Such a great way to start the day.  We got to do some touristy shopping after too which was so fun being able to find little treasures we knew the boys would love.  I think Nathan was more excited for us to get home with the shark tooth we got him, than he actually was to see his mom and dad!

After we got back we just ate more Florida Salads lol, drank more Spark slushies, and floated in the ocean collecting sand dollars and starfish.

That night we had a two hour training where we got to hear from the leaders in AdvoCare that really made this whole experience possible for all of us.  I don’t know you guys…I didn’t realize I was part of something so much bigger, so much more influential and impactful than I was maybe giving it credit for.  Never in a million years did I think I would end up working in Direct Sales.  I mean I got my degree in Interior Design…so how I got here always seemed to be a mystery to me until this trip.  You know what I loved most of design?  It was the people…the trust….I got to be part of people’s homes, their families, they let me design the space that they LIVED in and raised their children in.  The place they called they called home.  This opportunity…it’s the same exact thing.  People let me into their lives everyday to talk about things that you only talk about with people you trust…their weight, their heath, the stress they have day to day whether it be with how little time they have or how they really are financially stretched.  I loved design because it was a people business….I miss the creativity but have found a way to fill that void with being a craftaholic But even when I had my own design business my favorite part was the connection I would make with families.  They weren’t just clients to me.  The people I met on this trip had the same heart for PEOPLE and really showed Greg and I what this opportunity is all about and gave us some insight into maybe why we were there after all.

After the training we went into town for dinner with a smaller group and I’m not even going to tell you what we all ate.  Let’s just say it was the furthest thing from being 24 Day Challenge friendly.  Please pass the CarbEase!  It was awesome though and again, just felt like we were surrounded by people we had known forever.

The next morning I had a hangover…we didn’t drink alcohol though, it was from the food!  Not great timing for that morning’s event of AdvoCare Olympics.  We had no idea what to expect, but all I know is Greg had to wear a hot pink cut off shirt and that alone made this one of my favorite parts of the trip.  We were divided into teams and had to partake in water challenges, crossfit exercise relays (holy 75 burpees!!) , watermelon eating contests, Oreo flipping and M&M straw sucking games, and somehow amongst all the chaos of the event had to plan a team cheer to share in front of everyone at the end.  Big shoutout to Team Muscle Strength!!

For someone who works out all the time, the events were still freakin’ tiring!  It didn’t help that it was hot, muggy and we had the sun blaring down on us.  Perfect timing that I had a massage scheduled right after we finished up.  The ladies headed to the spa and the guys played 9 holes.  We all met back up after for more beach time, photos and a big group dinner at the hotel.

Our last night in Naples was perfect and left me filled to the brim with knowledge, inspiration, and excitement for all that is to come.  We first showed up to a hotel filled with strangers and left feeling like we are part of a family.  I was only sad to leave Naples, but so excited to know I get to see ALL of these smiling faces again in August.  Thank you for all the memories Naples and thank you to AdvoCare and my team for letting me know I am right where I’m supposed to be.  Greg and I are so excited to pay all of this forward and want more than ever to be in Naples again next year, only next time WE want to bring two couples that we care about along for the ride.  Until next time white, sandy beaches…

Whether you are thinking of taking on the AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge, have already purchased your challenge bundle, or are a few days in….then this post is for YOU!  Let’s get you your money’s worth and load you up with 24 tips to get the best possible results over the next 24 days and beyond.

As many of you know I have a large Facebook support group for people I help coach through the challenge.  While I am the first to admit I am no where near a health & fitness expert, I have definitely gathered some useful information through the experience of working with so many people.  We all seem to face the same road blocks, we all struggle with the same questions and we all seem to find the same success by making adjustments where we need to.

I need to preface this by saying that we like to run a pretty strict 24 Day Challenge in our group.  You will find a variance of opinions out there regarding the “do”s and “don’t”s of the challenge, but I am here to share advice that has yielded the best results for me and the majority of my fellow Challengers!

So without further adieu….

1.  Read over the Daily Guide and products carefully.  As soon as that box shows up at your door I know it’s tempting to want to dive in head first, but trust me when I say you should look through your products and get a better idea of what the next 24 days are going to look like.  Take things one day at a time, but familiarize yourself with the products and what’s to come.

2.  MEAL PLAN.  Every weekend plan out your clean meals for the entire week.  I typically eat similar things for breakfast and lunch but dinners I plan a different meal for each night of the week.  I use this nifty little notepad, fill it out completely, take it grocery shopping as my list, then hang it on my refrigerator so I know what Im having each night for dinner.  I can’t stress enough how much this will help you stay on track and feel organized.

You can see an example of one of my weekly meal plans HERE

3.  Journal your food.  This doesn’t have to be anything obsessive, and if it ends up becoming something you don’t enjoy doing, then stop.  The cool thing about what you will learn from this challenge is to stop obsessing over food.  Portions, calories, points etc…let them be a thing of the past.  But, I will say writing down what you eat is kind of fun, gives you a plan for the day, and gives you something you can look back on and share with your coach to see if there is anywhere you can make some changes if you feel stuck.  I do a daily check-in on the Facebook page and it’s great to start my day writing out what I will eat, and sticking with it.  It also gives others an idea of what they could eat that day and really helps you feel organized.

 4.  Do the 24 Day Challenge with someone else.  Get your spouse, family member, best friend etc to tackle the next 24 days with you.  It makes it fun to have someone who understands exactly what you are going through!  Plus it’s much easier to stay the course when someone you are close with isn’t tempting you with what they are eating, and supports you in your new clean eating lifestyle.

5.  Take before photos and measurements.  I know those before photos are hard to see…but take them!  You will feel so incredibly motivated when you can SEE the difference in a matter of 24 days.  Don’t let that scale tell you how you did, let the inches and visible proof do the talking.  You will be amazed!  If you are a member of my Facebook group I have a great measurements sheet that you can print straight from the “files” tab on the board before you get started.

6.  Plan on starting on a date that avoids tempting events.  Although I’m not encouraging you to keep holding off on starting a challenge, I do think it’s best to avoid beginning when you know you are about to leave for vacation, when your birthday falls within the 24 days, the week before Thanksgiving (even though I did make an awesome clean Thanksgiving meal HERE) etc.  If something major falls within the 24 days that you know could bring about temptation, I would wait until you know you have a low key month to get started.

7.  DON’T CHEAT.  Like seriously DON’T CHEAT!!  Repeat in your head over and over it’s only 24 days, it’s only 24 days.  Don’t take nibbles of things you shouldn’t, don’t sneak in one little treat because you’ve been so good, don’t have one drink just because it’s the weekend and you feel you deserve one.  What you really deserve is to truly commit to this, and to yourself that you can do this.  You are probably wondering how one bite of something can really mess up your results…the problem is that one bite just mentally gave you permission to do it again, and again.  There is a reason they call this a challenge…prove to yourself that you won’t be defeated.

8.  Don’t give up.  Ok, so let’s say you did end up falling off course and snuck in a few things that aren’t challenge friendly.  Don’t tell yourself that you have “ruined this” and there is no point in continuing on.  Although you can’t hit rewind, you can certainly press play and continue on.  Talk to your coach if you need a little motivation…that’s what we are here for.

 9.  Exercise!!!  What you put into your body is the most important part of the weight loss equation, so the 24 Day Challenge can get you results without exercise.  But why not take all that extra energy you’ll be fueled with and do something with it that will get you even further ahead, and will just make you feel great?!  Ease into what you are comfortable with.  Even just setting a daily step count and challenging yourself to move more than you did the day before.  Find a way to get in 20-30 minutes of something that gets your heart rate up!  You will be so surprised with what you can do!

10.  Drink lots of water.  I repeat…drink lots of water.  Take your body weight, divide it in half, and that’s how many ounces you need to drink.  Don’t worry, your Spark counts towards that!

11.  Don’t skip your snacks.  Or any of your other meals.  It is so important to keep eating throughout the day.  Eating five to six small meals a day, they say, helps regulate blood sugar, control cravings and keep hunger at bay.  I know that fiber drink might make you full, and all that water drinking can curb your appetite…but really do your best to stay on an eating schedule especially with your supplements in the Max Phase.

12.  Speaking of Fiber Drinks.  There are a lot of silent observers  in the Facebook group, but let me tell you something…everyone comes out of the woodwork when our beloved fiber drink is discussed!  Are you ready for it?  Here’s your advice.  Throw it into a blender bottle, with ice cold water, shake it, don’t let it sit at all…and CHUG.  Keep adding water if you need to.  If you need to mix half a pack at a time you can do that too.  If you’re feeling really desperate squeeze the juice of a fresh orange into it, or mix it up with your Spark.  You’ve got this!

13.  Use Catalyst.  Did you purchase a bottle of Catalyst with your challenge?  I sure hope so.  There is a reason this product is nicknamed “lipo in a bottle”.  The branched chain amino acids that are in Catalyst will help burn additional fat, tone, define and preserve your lean body muscle and enhance your strength and endurance.  This is my go-to product…all day, every day (and Spark too of course)!

14.  Buy extra Spark.  Speaking of Spark…if you like it, you’re going to want more!  Love the convenience of the packets that come with your challenge bundle, but next go around get yourself a canister of your favorite flavor.  It’s a much better value and will last you a long time…unless you have to share it all with your Spark obsessed husband like I do!

15.  Eliminate all processed foods.  The next few tips will be advice regarding how to eat while on the Challenge.  As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, we run a strict challenge in the Facebook group.  There is no set definition on what “clean eating” means, and there are several opinions of what this encompasses.  The list below are foods that should be avoided at all costs while on the 24 Day Challenge:

* Coffee/Soda/Alcohol* White foods (pasta, bagels, white bread, white rice, processed foods) * Soy Sauce or any sauces/dressings with sugar in them *Sugar * Dairy Products (cow’s milk, yogurt, cottage cheese etc) *Fatty foods, Fried foods, fast foods*

16.  Incorporate all fresh foods.  

*Tons of fresh fruits and veggies *Brown rice (in moderation) *Brown rice pasta (in moderation) *Sprouted grain Bread (in moderation…Ezekiel is a good brand) *Chicken, fish, lean ground turkey *Almond milk *Eggs *Nuts- raw almonds, raw natural peanuts, raw natural peanut butter *Vegetable broths *Fresh diluted Juices *Legumes (in moderation).

Eat foods with very few ingredients, all pronounceable ingredients, or better yet, no ingredients listed at all because they’re totally natural and unprocessed.

We have so many awesome recipes we share in the Facebook group that it’s almost overwhelming how many exciting meals you can create within these guidelines.  Which leads me to…

17.  Be creative with your food.  This is not a “diet”…yes, it’s a change in your diet…but we want you to feel like you can do this forever (because you can).  If you are on the group page,  I have made our clean recipe Pinterest folder a sticky post at the top of comment section.  Dive in there and grab some of your favorites.  Try something new each week, and of course stick with some of your favorites.  Try to make variations of some of your previous favorite meals…spaghetti and meatballs?  How about baked spaghetti squash with homemade turkey meatballs?  There are so many ways to get creative but…

18.  Don’t indulge in “good” versions of “bad” foods.  What does this mean exactly?   Stop with the gluten-free cookies and crackers and the Paleo-fying of desserts, junk food and baked goods. Trying to recreate some of your previous indulgences and addictive foods will not be what frees you from these bad habits.  Protein pancakes, almond-flour blueberry muffins, banana and oat cookies, Paleo donuts!!…  Are there some great clean treats you can occasionally make for yourself post challenge?  Of course!  The problem with these kinds of foods are they still taste awesome and often people give themselves the green light to overindulge because they are “healthy”.  True…they are healthier (much!) but good luck trying to just eat one paleo peanut butter cup when you have been eliminating these kinds of foods.   If you are having a serious craving for something sweet, then obviously these are a much better solution than caving to the real thing but trust me when I say, don’t make these kinds of substitutions throughout your whole challenge…it’s a slippery slope!

19.  Don’t be a short order cook.  I know this is a hard one, but give it your best shot….what you eat, your family eats (yes, I mean your picky 2 and 4 year old).  If you start to feel like a slave to your kitchen and are making 3 different dinners for your household, this will get old real fast.  You can ease into it…if you’re making chicken fajitas for yourself maybe still use a tortilla and cheese for the other members of your family but even that, slowly start eliminating.  There are so many amazing meals you can make out there that everyone will like AND everyone will benefit from.  What’s better than amazing, fresh, non-processed and healthy meals for your entire family?  Nothing…good health for all!  (We have more tips for this in the Facebook group as well)

20.  Don’t step on the scale until day 11 and day 25.  Everything in-between doesn’t matter.  Come to think of it day 11 and day 25 weigh-ins aren’t all that important either.  Losing weight on the challenge is one of the awesome benefits that comes along with it, but if you can see past that number on the scale and focus on how you’re feeling, how your skin is glowing, how your pants are looser, your tummy is flatter, your energy is up, the intensity of your workouts have increased, your cravings have subsided, your bad habits have been kicked and how happy you are knowing you have only been putting the very best foods and supplements into you body…well then you can stop obsessing over that number on the scale, and be proud of your lifestyle shift.  We always say this isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.  Step off that scale….the number on there isn’t your medal for crossing the finish line.

21.  Talk to your coach.  Can you do the 24 Day Challenge on your own?  Yup…I did!  However, the whole premise for starting the Facebook group was to provide for others, what I felt I was lacking on my first challenge.  A support system.  A cheerleader.  A person to turn to for all your questions.  I am often shocked at the number of e-mails I get from people who are almost done their challenges, and are completely lost in the process and are out on the internet Googling answers and end up finding my blog.  I can’t speak for all the other distributors out there, but know that when you click “submit” on your order you are getting so much more than an AdvoCare box delivered to your doorstep.  You are getting my help, group support, and someone who genuinely cares about your success.  Put your coach to work, that’s what we are here for!

22.  Plan ahead for day 25.  As you head into the middle of your Max Phase, and are feeling and looking the best you have in awhile…like many, you will start to panic.  What should I do next?  This is a great time to reach out to your coach (if they haven’t already reached out to you), to discuss what to do as your challenge ends and the rest of your healthy lifestyle begins.  I actually wrote a detailed post HERE if you would like some specific information regarding day 25 and beyond.

23.  Become a distributor.  Liking how you feel?  Seeing awesome results?  If you’re ready to continue on with your new and improved lifestyle and have found some awesome new products that you can’t live without…save yourself, and potentially make yourself, some money.  Anyone who is deciding to be a product user should get in touch with their coach so they can hear more about getting 20-40% off all of their future orders.

24.  Embrace the change.  This…all of this, is for YOU.  Taking on the 24 Day Challenge is not meant to be something that you push through just to be finished with and say you did it.  It’s not a quick fix.  It’s not something fighting against you, it’s not holding you back, you shouldn’t wish for it to be over…it’s helping you grow and emerge into a better version of you.  What you can learn in 24 days can honestly change the way you look at food, fitness and overall health for the rest of your life.  Go into this challenge with an open mind, and the willingness to allow this to be that game changer you have been searching for.  It really should be called the 24 Day Solution.

I hope you found these tips helpful and are feeling a bit more prepared for your challenge.  As always send me an e-mail at heylaurenrene@gmail.com if you have any questions or head HERE for more information on how to purchase your challenge to join our Facebook group.   If you’re feeling ready, grab your Spark and let’s get started!

{1}  If you missed my Stitch Fix review from yesterday check it out and know that I listened to all the feedback I received and decided to keep the striped dolman top and the yellow skinny jeans! And without hesitation scheduled my next fix for mid April.  If you’ve been wanting to try this service, in the name of Treat Yourself Tuesday, go for it!  At the very least go and fill out a Style Profile for yourself just because it’s fun!

{2}  Well, normally I would say that Monday nights are my favorite (and only) night I treat myself to some terrible television.  And although watching last night’s Bachelor finale was something I was really looking forward to…can we talk about the ending?!?  I don’t even know what to say….but I do know that isss definitely not okay!  I will say I’m bummed about my favorite night of television turning boring again, but Im glad I treated myself this week one last time before next season.

{3}  I saw these two scarves on Jane.com and decided they should make their way to my doorstep especially since each of them were under $7.00.  They have a lot of cute, lightweight scarves on there right now which I thought would be perfect for Spring.  If you run over there quickly enough I believe there were still some of these available.  Scarves are my way of sprucing up any casual outfit and making it look like I put in just a LITTLE bit more effort.  Excited to get these!

{4}  My friend Ryann had a Stella & Dot party this past weekend and it was so much fun to actually be guest at one instead of hosting one (well I love doing that too of course).  This gave me lots of time to look at all the jewelry (drink champagne and eat cheese), and really decide which of my favorite items would be added to my collection.  I went with these and can’t wait for them to get here!  I’m pretty sure Stella & Dot is my second favorite delivery to get!  Check out number 5 for my favorite mail day!

{5}  All I have to say is it’s Christmas in March over here!  There is no better mail day then an Advo mail day!  Don’t worry this isn’t all for me (or is it?).  I can’t even tell you how giddy I get looking at all these goodies lined up in my pantry.  I am trying out a few new things too which I am really excited about.  What I am even MORE excited about is that we are starting another large group challenge on April 7th that I will also be participating in.  If you’re ready to treat yourself to feeling and looking your best into the Spring and Summer months…come and join us!  You will quickly see why we all get so excited for product delivery day!

There is a lot going on in the next few months and really I am going to try to focus on treating myself to TIME.  Time to slow things down and focus on the boys, time alone with Greg, time for me and my girlfriends, and most importantly some time alone just to give myself a chance to take a break from it all.  I know a lot of my Treat Yourself Tuesday items are “things”….mainly because they are more interesting to share a photo of, but really I can’t stress enough that the greatest gift you can ever give yourself is the chance to slow down and take some time for yourself.  Speaking of, both boys are napping which is a complete miracle in and of itself, so time to unplug and enjoy the silence…my favorite treat of all.

To those of you who are reading this and have completed a challenge or are nearing the end of one…I think my best advice is to first talk to your “coach” in Advocare.  Don’t have one?  Just send me an e-mail and I will gladly help you take on day 25 and beyond.  Accountability, support, motivation, encouragement…they are the most important ingredients when it comes to continued success.  Going at this alone is so hard!  I take in daily inspiration from those around me and would be lost without it.

Next…keep on going.  You know that Max Phase you just did for 14 days?  You can do that FOREVER if you want to!  Energy for days, the best core nutrition, a great and healthy eating schedule, metabolism boosting…there is no need to have that end.   Keep at those MNS packets, drink your Spark, and we all know Catalyst is your best friend.  There is no reason you have to say goodbye to these products.  Do you have to be as strict at your clean eating as you have been for the past 24 days?  Heck no!  You better believe I dive head first into a big goblet (not glass, goblet) of Merlot as soon as I am done a challenge.  I truly believe if you can hold yourself to an 80/20 rule of clean eating you will continue to see incredible results.  What that looks like for me is eating clean throughout the week and then giving myself leeway on the weekends.  This should never feel like you are depriving yourself of some of your favorite things.  That is the main difference between a diet and a lifestyle change.  Be easy on yourself and be confident that you are now a clean eating pro and you have all the tools you need to always get yourself right back on track.

The next part of the equation looks different for everyone, and that is…exercise!!  I understand not everyone has the time, desire, or even the ability to spend hours at the gym.   However, it is important to get yourself moving’ and shakin’ somehow throughout the day.  Set a daily step goal for yourself, get in a walk after work, try a class at the gym you have always had your eye on, try out yoga or running…you may surprise yourself that with your new weight loss has also come a new confidence when it comes to what you are capable of.  

That is the second most common question I get….what do you do for exercise and how often?  When I first started this I took the advice above and did anything just to get me moving.  I did 20 min when I could on the elliptical, I tried out the couch to 5k app and gave running a go, I would try to do one class every week at the gym.  Over the course of a few months I started to increase what I was doing.  Currently a good week for me would consist of 4-5 days of morning bootcamp, 1 day of a cardio kickboxing class, and either a rest day or a run (depending on how many bootcamp days I did).  I have learned that WEIGHT TRAINING is making all the difference for me.  Ladies…do not fear weights!!  Lift often and lift heavy and watch what happens.   This is where my focus will be this year and I am excited to share with you what increased weight training has (hopefully) done for me.

And last but certainly not least is supplementation.  Everyone has different views on taking supplements, what to take, when to take them, or if they should even be taken at all.  I know that since I have started using Advocare’s Performance Elite line everything has changed for me.  I feel better, I feel stronger, my endurance has increased and my muscles are building.  I am still in the process of trying to new things and seeing what I react best to but these have been my go to products that I will continue with.

CARDIO SUPPLEMENTS:

On days I am doing distance runs or days with high cardio intensity I love this combination of products:

3/4 scoop of Spark + 1 scoop of Arginine Extreme.  Shake in a blender bottle with about 12 oz of water.  Drink about 45 minutes to an hour before my run and I take two o2 Gold pills and two Catalyst capsules.

This combination makes my lungs feel more open, I can take deeper breaths, I feel energized and my strength and stamina definitely feel increased compared to the days I have forgotten to take my products.

If I am on a long run you will find one of my hydration belt bottles filled with Rehydrate and the other with water.  If I was just doing cardio I will drink Rehydrate when I get home.  Best electrolyte replacement drink out there…I literally feel a surge of energy when I drink it on my distance runs.  I get dehydrated really quickly and am a salty sweater so this product is a life-saver for me.

WEIGHT TRAINING SUPPLEMENTS:

On bootcamp mornings (weight training days) I mix up a scoop of Spark and 3/4 scoop of Mass Impact in a blender bottle with about 12-14 oz of water.  With it I will take 2-3 Catalyst.  I try to drink as much as I can before I head to bootcamp but since it’s so early in the morning I tend to drink this during class as well.

When I get home from bootcamp I mix up a Muscle Gain protein shake and honestly I drink it in the shower haha.  This way I get that protein in me within 30 minutes of my workout and get my shower in there too.  Us busy mamas need to find any way we can to multi-task (and to take a shower…which is a luxury most days).

I think I have been sore for 7 months straight since starting bootcamp and then I met my friend Nighttime Recovery.  Pop two of these before bedtime when you already are feeling that ache in your body and not only will you wake up feeling awesome and way less sore, but it’s pretty exciting to know you were working on your muscle tone while you were sleeping.  Easiest workout out there!

So that is my experience thus far with the Performance Elite line.  I am going to look into Muscle Strength and Post Workout Recovery as well.  I have heard great things about both and if I am already loving what I have already tried, I can only imagine how great these will be added in as well.

 I just came across these photos on my phone.  The left side is from May after I lost about 25 lbs after starting my first 24 Day Challenge.  The right side was from last month.  The crazy part is I weigh the same in both photographs.  I often tell people that the scale doesn’t tell the story of the transformations you are making, and I think this is all the proof I needed to show myself that this couldn’t be more true.

I really hope some of you have found this post helpful.  I was on my own when I did my first challenge and for the months that followed it.  It was a lot of experimenting and finding out what I thought worked best for me.  When I look back I really wish I had some guidance and someone to keep me accountable and just tell me what to do next.  If someone says DO THIS and shows me how it’s worked for them….I am on it!!  I don’t want any of you to stop at day 25 and find yourself searching for answers, and the worst case scenario, giving up because you felt lost.  Please reach out to me if you find yourself in this spot and I will offer you support the best way I can.  I have a Facebook group filled with 600 amazing and inspiring people who would love to help you reach your goals, but my favorite part is that individual connection I have with many of you so please don’t ever hesitate to say hello!  You’ve totally got this!!

For now how about I share how I plan to get back on track this week?  I started off the morning with a major bootcamp butt-kicking session and have been chugging water and eating clean all day.  I sat down and used my new fun meal planning notepad to get organized for the week…cute right?  See what’s on the bottom there?  That’s right we are off to Vermont for almost 2 weeks and I definitely need to hold tight to some of my favorite clean eating recipes to prepare while staying with my family.  Here are some good ones that I have on this week’s lineup before we head out of town.

Monday Meal Plan for the week of 2/16:

Sunday- Thai coconut curry turkey chili over brown rice

Monday- Ground turkey marinara over Mung Bean Pasta <—-have you bought this yet?!?!  If not, get on it…there may be a shortage because my Advocare Facebook group of 500+ people are ON IT!!  We are all in love with it.  I was joking that I should have bought stock in Mung Beans lol.

Tuesday- Buffalo chicken quinoa salad.  Of course without the stinky blue cheese.

Wednesday- Thai peanut chicken in the crockpot.  If you haven’t tried this one yet you are SO missing out.  This is our very favorite meal and you will be seeing this recipe posted every week.

Thursday- Balsamic crockpot chicken with brussels sprouts and brown rice.

Friday- We are flying out on the redeye and making dinner will be the last thing on my mind.  Planning on a organic beet salad with blackened chicken from our local Mexican restaurant.

Lastly I wanted to leave you with a super simple recipe I whipped up for Valentine’s Day.  Greg and I celebrated at home with wine and chocolate covered strawberries…but at least our meal was clean right?  It felt like we were dining out…and just like all clean recipes it was so easy and quick to make.  Enjoy!!

Clean eating Lemon and Garlic Shrimp Scampi 

Ingredients:

3/4 pound cleaned and uncooked shrimp

juice and zest from 2 lemons

2 tablespoon olive oil

4 cloves of garlic minced

1 tablespoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 cup chicken broth

Mung bean pasta

Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions:

Prepare Mung Bean pasta per instructions on package

Heat oil in a large skillet and add all the ingredients but the shrimp.  Let them simmer for a little so some of the liquid boils down.  Add shrimp and cook until pink.  Drain mung bean pasta and toss into skillet with all the other ingredients.  Serve with parmesan cheese and asparagus.  Serve immediately and enjoy!

I don’t even like shrimp but I LOVED this!  Greg totally gave it two thumbs up and felt like it was a special meal since I normally don’t make seafood.  I will definitely be making this one more often and hope you give it a try too!

I hope you all have a happy and healthy week!!

Monday- Shredded zucchini turkey burgers topped with grilled onions and jalapeños.  Side of baked seasoned sweet potato wedges.  I am so excited to use a new clean ketchup I bought at Whole Foods!

Tuesday- Roasted veggie quinoa salad with a garlic vinaigrette (new favorite meal, a must make!)

Wednesday- Crockpot Thai Peanut chicken over brown rice (use Braggs liquid aminos in place of soy sauce)

Thursday- Ground turkey lettuce wrap tacos with fresh guacamole

Friday- Balsamic crockpot chicken with Brussels sprouts and brown rice

Saturday- Sweet potato hash topped with a poached egg

Sunday- Ground turkey marina over Mung bean pasta

Let me tell you a little more about Mung Bean pasta.  Someone on our Advocare Facebook group board said she found this amazing pasta substitute at Whole Foods.  While we do use brown rice or quinoa pasta quite often, I still keep my portions very low since it is still high in carbohydrates.  It’s great for a night before I have a long run, but otherwise I don’t want to have a high carb dinner before I head to bed.  In comes Mung bean pasta!  25 grams of protein, 6 net carbs, 11 grams of fiber and only two ingredients.  Mung beans and water!  The texture feels just like a hearty fettucine, the flavor is mild and doesn’t taste like beans at all.  I can’t keep going to Whole Paycheck every week so I am happy to find I can order Mung Bean Pasta in bulk Amazon Prime style!  LOVE it!!

That’s all for today!  Make sure you swing by tomorrow for a special surprise on my “Treat Yourself Tuesday” post, you won’t want to miss it!

***Side note:  Tomorrow is the last day to get the sale pricing for the 24 Day Challenge before it goes back to regular price for the rest of the year.  We have group members still joining every single day, so it’s never too late to hop on board.

We had a really nice weekend.  It was a great mix of fun and productivity.  Greg and I went out for an early date night on Friday and we seriously had such a great time…we are still talking about how much fun we had.  It was one of those nights you don’t talk about work or kids and just enjoy the simple fun you have together…the reasons that brought you together in the first place.  In this case it was great food, laughter, good drinks, live music, wine tasting and dancing.  All that fun and we were still home before 10:00pm…it was great!

Saturday turned into a lazy day at home (thanks to Friday night) but we did finally take all those Christmas decorations down!  I was going to try and make it to the gym but I needed a day off and saved my legs for the 10 mile training run I did yesterday.  Felt good to burn off the couple of glasses (bottles) of wine I had from our night out.  Other than that there was lots of playing and relaxing with the kiddos.  Just my kind of weekend.

So that brings me to today…Monday morning and ready to kick off my third 24 Day Challenge.  I have never looked forward to one as much as I have this one, but that excitement is probably triggered by the enthusiasm of the now 300 Facebook group members that are doing it too.  My goal in doing another one this go around is to mainly be there to support everyone through the challenge, especially for those that are new to it.  Of course I want to trim off some of those extra holiday lbs, tone up, rid my system of those Christmas cookies, and get that extra pep in my step that the challenge always gives me.  Greg is doing a full one with me too which is really fun….mainly because he can’t drink wine in front of me haha.  Can’t wait to report back with how great everyone does!  And, as always, it’s never ever too late to join in!

Our fridge is fully stocked with freshness, so I thought I would share what we will be eating this week.  Even if doing the 24DC isn’t your thing at this point in time, eating a clean diet can be so rewarding on it’s own.  Start small with replacing a few meals a week to be completely clean and you will definitely see some big changes.  Enjoy!

Sunday- Balsamic chicken bake (add artichokes to recipe)

Monday- Ground turkey meatloaf muffins with garlic broccoli (make double the amount for a quick and easy lunch throughout the week.

Tuesday- Warm roasted veggie and quinoa salad

Wednesday- Coconut & curry turkey chili

Thursday- Crockpot balsamic chicken with Brussels spout and brown rice

Friday- Crockpot chicken & veggie marinara over spaghetti squash (quinoa pasta for the boys)

Saturday- Shredded zucchini turkey burgers (eliminate breadcrumbs)  with seasoned sweet potato wedges.

For breakfast I will be having a combo of egg white omelets, hard boiled eggs, chia seed pudding with fruit, and green smoothies.  Of course my Spark, Catalyst, and Muscle Gain shakes will be part of the line up as well.

Lunches will be a combination of leftovers (I’m telling you those turkey meatloaf muffins are even better the next day), green smoothies and chicken salads.

I love the organization that comes with doing the challenge and look forward to trying new recipes each week and sharing them with you!  If you have any favorite please send them my way!

Have a happy and healthy week!