ADVOCARE

I just quickly wanted to tell everyone what I am coming to see with doing this advocare thing.  The 24 day challenge was a really awesome eye opener, but I'm starting to explore some of the other products they offer and I am really impressed.  In doing some research I just ordered some things to try.  Advocare isn't only about weight loss.  They have a wellness line as well as a performance line.  I thought it would be nice to give you guys a run down of just a FEW of the products they offer.  I don't want my blog to be ALL about Advocare and I promise I won't try to sell yall things all the time, but I am getting a lot of results as well as motivation from these products.  I feel it would be remiss of me not to mention them.  Feel free to ask me any questions!

TRIM LINE
When it comes to losing weight we of course have the 24 day challenge.  I think they start you out with this as a jump start so you can get a feel for the products and see how you like them and really see some results quickly:
https://www.advocare.com/130555505/Store/ItemDetail.aspx?itemCode=99050&id=A&flavor=b

They have something called Carb-Ease.  You take it before your heaviest carb meal each day.  It is supposed to:

• Helps reduce the absorption and breakdown of carbohydrates and fats 
• Helps reduce the negative effects of excessive carbohydrate consumption
• Provides support for body composition

https://www.advocare.com/130555505/Store/ItemDetail.aspx?itemCode=T4462&id=A

They also offer Catalyst, which I did in fact take with my challenge.  I could actually see the difference in my muscles while using this.  The benefits are:

Helps maintain muscle mass during exercise & weight management

Aids in preserving muscle and energy levels during times of calorie restriction

Helps repair & protect muscle tissue

https://www.advocare.com/130555505/Store/ItemDetail.aspx?itemCode=T2010&id=A

ThermoPlus...I just bought this one:

• Supports the body's ability to convert fat into energy
• Promotes a healthy metabolism
• Helps suppress appetite
• Contains oolong tea and sage extracts to support weight loss
• Works great in conjunction with the AdvoCare® Metabolic Nutrition Systems (MNS®)

https://www.advocare.com/130555505/Store/ItemDetail.aspx?itemCode=T4101&id=A

ACTIVE LINE
In the active line we have SPARK.  Now you guys already know how I feel about spark, but I will tell you about it anyway. 

• Available in Watermelon, Mango Strawberry, Pink Lemonade, Mandarin Orange, Fruit Punch, Grape, Citrus and Cherry
• The most nutritionally advanced energy drink on the market
• Sugar-free, long-lasting energy
• Surprisingly fast-acting
• Contains 21 vitamins, minerals and nutrients designed to synergistically provide a healthy, balanced source of energy
• Just 45 calories per serving
• Sharpens mental focus

https://www.advocare.com/130555505/Store/ItemDetail.aspx?itemCode=A2912&id=E&flavor=l&size=C

In LOVE!  I also find it curbs my appetite which is a huge plus!!!

You have your rehydrate which is advocares Gatorade type drink

• Helps the body stay hydrated during physical activity
• Provides a full spectrum of crucial electrolytes for improved electrolyte balance
• Includes amino acids to help feed your muscles
• Fuels your body with carbohydrates for energy production and sustained muscle endurance
• Contains antioxidants to fight free radicals commonly produced during exercise
• Helps prevent cramping during and after exercise

https://www.advocare.com/130555505/Store/ItemDetail.aspx?itemCode=A2414&id=E&flavor=K&size=C

I definitely want to try this one.  They have the gel as well which is great for long runs!  Kind of like Gu

WELLNESS LINE

In the wellness line there are things such as OmegaPlex

• Supplies 1,000 mg of omega-3 fatty acids per serving
• Contains both EPA and DHA fatty acids
• Plays an important role in the transportation of nutrients
• Helps support normal blood flow and healthy blood pressure
• Promotes cardiovascular health in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise
• Helps promote healthy metabolism
• Helps maintain a healthy immune system
• Promotes maintenance of healthy skin, hair and nails

https://www.advocare.com/130555505/Store/ItemDetail.aspx?itemCode=W2002&id=D

A wonderful probiotic

• Helps maintain normal beneficial intestinal microflora
• Supports healthy intestinal function
• Enhances weight management
• Improves nutrient absorption
• Aids in good digestion
• Provides immune system support
• Helps relieve symptoms of occasional constipation

https://www.advocare.com/130555505/Store/ItemDetail.aspx?itemCode=W3812&id=D

There are so many things on the performance line as well.  I don't know as much about these kinds of products, but I GUARANTEE I can get you on the phone with someone who can tell you all you need to know.
https://www.advocare.com/130555505/Store/CatalogView.aspx?id=B

I just wanted to get the information out there to everyone!  Like I said feel free to message me on facebook with questions or email me at ktmitchell@outlook.com

I HATE running

OMG you get posts two days in a row!  That can only mean one thing...I'm on track and feeling motivated. 

First, of all shout out to my mom and hubs for being my first followers.  Yes, they are my mom and hubs so they have to, but I appreciate it anyway.

Second, shout out to my friend Andrea for signing up for Bootcamp Explosion with me!  If you want to come get your ass kicked with us buy the living social deal and message me!
https://www.livingsocial.com/deals/726898-one-month-of-unlimited-bootcamp-classes?rui=17478372

If you know me, you likely know my history with running, but I'm going to tell you about it anyway.  When I first started losing weight there seemed to be this huge boom of people talking about running.  It was the trendy cool thing to do (I think it somewhat still is).  There were runs coming out everywhere like the color run and warrior dash.  All these "races" seemed to be stressing the fact that you didn't have to be a "runner" to do them.  There seemed to be an anyone can run mentality. 

I am an elliptical lady myself.  I have extremely wide hips and very short legs.  Thanks family for blessing me with these two wonderful traits (eye roll).  I guess when I have babies I'll be thanking Jesus for these big birthing hips.  Anyway, at a very hefty weight and with these big ole hips I always thought there is NO WAY I am running.  No one is chasing me, the ice cream truck didn't pass me up, Ryan Gosling isn't running away from me so I am not doing it.  After ellipticalling (prob not a word) and doing weight watchers for awhile I was seeing definite results in my weight loss, but my body just wasn't looking like what I wanted it to look like. So go figure I decided to try and run.  I can remember this all very well.  I was living at an apartment in prairieville that I, for the life of me, cannot remember the name.  I was right out of college and working in Reserve so I had a 40 minute or so commute there and back.  It was the summer when I started.  I decided to try out couch to 5k.  I had no intentions of actually ever running a 5k at this point, but I had read about running and thought I would give it a try. The first week is something that I thought was ridiculous when I looked at it...Walk 5 minutes, jog 60 seconds, walk 2 minutes etc.  OMG this is going to be cake.  I think the total time that you are even jogging/walking is like 20 minutes.  Seriously C25K?  I played softball for 15 years.  I love being outside.  20 minutes??  So I get home from work, lace up my new pair of tennis shoes, and I'm off to run around the apartment complex.  I almost died.  Legit almost died in a puddle of sweat and embarassment that I was so bad at this.  I had shin splints, I was dripping with sweat, and all that was in my lungs was hot, humid, Louisiana air.  But you know what...I went out the next day and I freakin did it again.  And you know what else...it got easier.  I completed the program sometime in fall.  I remember this because I remember at the end when you have to run 3 miles the air was perfect and it felt amazing outside.  Someone was burning leaves and I was all happy about it being football season.  I have since run, I would say, over 15 5ks.  A lot of those being mud runs with obstacles because those are always pretty fun.  I even completed a half marathon last December ( I didn't say ran...this is a story for another day). 

With all this being said, I HATE RUNNING.  I keep waiting and waiting for this runner's high you all speak of.  Not there.  Which gets me to the point now.  I have decided to start running again.  I haven't done much of it since the hell that was called a 1/2 marathon (how do people run this twice...as in a whole marathon...without their limbs actually falling off?).  Yesterday I ran 1.5 miles.  I thought cake once again, I mean I finished 13.1 miles.  It's hot guys and I have not been running.  It sucked.  But guess what?  My body freakin loves it.  When I start getting in the habit of running my whole body changes.  They are subtle changes, but they are there.  My arms tone up, my ass gets a little better, my legs are amazing and holy crap my hips even narrow a little bit.  Sometimes to get the results you want you have to suck it up and do what works!

This is me before my run yesterday.  I'm hoping I can wear the same thing in a month or so and see some body changes.  The plan is 12 miles a week to start.  That's 1.5 miles 4 times a week and then 3 miles twice a week.  Totally doable.  I'll keep yall updated.

New snack

For anyone trying to eat clean I found these at albertsons and they are DELICIOUS!!

Story of the Half-Eaten Mexican Pizza

WARNING:  This blog post will be about total and complete failure.  Read at own risk!

You know things did not go well when you wake up on Sunday at 11am, still half drunk, with a half-eaten Mexican Pizza by your head.

Something went terribly wrong this weekend guys...

There seems to be a pattern here, where I do wonderfully all week, then come Friday night it's an eat fest until Sunday night.  The plan is always to have ONE cheat meal on the weekend, but things seem to quickly get out of hand.  So far, things have gone relatively alright.  Most of the time Friday night is something I shouldn't be eating, but I don't overeat.  When I'm full, I stop.  On Saturday I usually have eggs for breakfast and keep it not too bad for lunch.  Well, this weekend shit got real.  I DO NOT drink.  By DO NOT, I actually mean I only drink once or twice a year.  I don't really enjoy the taste of alcohol so I pretty much drink to get drunk.  I'm not one to sip a glass of wine and enjoy it.  No thanks.  I drank pretty heavily and quite often when I was in college, but once I started losing weight I pretty much gave it up all together because drinking WILL sabotage your weight loss.  No doubt. 

One of my best friends is moving to Texas next week.  We decided that we all needed one last night out Saturday night to party like we were in college.  So the husbands/fiances stayed sober to drive us around and the girls drank...and drank....and drank.  When I decide that I am actually going to drink I plan it out pretty meticulously.  With me, there is a very fine line between "good time drunk" and "throwing up drunk."  There is not a whole bunch of in between.  Jon and I went to dinner around 9 at Bistro Byronz.  I got the avacodo supreme.  It's avacados, sprouts, tomatoes, and balsamic on a 7 grain bun.  Not the worse choice I could make right??  I also got a Bellini-Tini. This is a martini with orange juice, champagne, lots of vodka (obviously), and peach and it's absolutely delicious.  So, we leave there and I have a pretty strong buzz going (because I don't often drink).  We head to Boudreaux and Thibodeaux's downtown and I ask the bartender if he can make something "martini-like."  He say's sure and I watch as he pours absolute vodka in a shaker, squeezes 3 lemon slices in there, and shakes.  I know I'm in trouble at this point, but I'm with my besties and feeling good so I drink it rather quickly because surprisingly that shit went down smooth.  I get another...and then one more.  You can imagine where I'm at drunk-wise at this point.  We decide to go to city bar (is that what it's called?) and I got a vodka and sprite, which pretty much tasted like vodka and vodka, but about halfway through started to taste like delicious water and lemon.  Things get a little blurry at this point.  I know we danced and danced and danced.  There is a video of it somewhere.  At about 1:30 I told Jon we needed to leave because, and I quote, "I need a mother fucking mexican pizza right now."  Being the wonderful hubs that he is, he laughed at me, helped me get my drunk ass to the car, and drove me straight to taco bell as I apparently sang "Little Red Corvette"  by Prince at the top of my lungs.  In my defense, he told me I was really good and he wanted to hear more.  We got home and Jon then had to cut my dress off of me.  Yes, with scissors!!  All because he somehow zipped my undershirt into my dress earlier in the night.  When trying to unzip, it got caught and I was plenty drunk enough to not want to deal with this!  He saved the dress, but had to cut the undershirt.  I slept in the undershirt with the huge hole in it, by the way. 

And here we are...Sunday morning...full of regret...vodka seeping out of my pores

Also, does anyone notice I just ate the middle out of the pizza.  No idea here. 

Well you know what?!  It's Monday guys and I am feeling pretty good about it.  Maybe, this half-eaten mexican pizza was just what I needed to realize that ONE cheat meal a week is plenty.  And maybe the fact that it's Monday morning and I am STILL hungover has taught me a lesson.  I am pretty excited to go to the Advocare mixer by my house tonight and get re-focused on what I am here to do which is get healthy and lose weight.  Every time I want to eat something stupid this week Im going to look at this pizza.  Shit, I think I might make it the background of my phone.  Sometimes we need a reminder.

Some side notes:  If anyone wants more info about the mixer tonight hit me up..  It's going to be a good time guys!  Also, please follow me if you read.  I have NO followers, but a good bit of views so I know some of you are reading!  And if you have anything you want me to blog about or any questions you have I would LOVE to hear them!

Good day for a good day!

Well people it's DAY 24!!!  Challenge completed!   I did not get to measure everything yet, but at work just now I did a little sneak and I lost 1.5 inches in my waist and 2 inches on each thigh!!  Say what?!?!  I don't have before and after pictures, but I did take a few pictures today and here they are...

Sorry the pictures are not right side up.  I saved them the right way, but what are ya gonna do?

I am in a size SMALL dress!  So, let's  be honest here...Does the dress run big?  Probably.  Are these pictures taken at good angles?  Yea.  But don't rain on my parade.  I feel good and feel like I'm looking good and I am only getting better!!!

Good night!!

:)

Longer Lasting Motivation

I have a feeling this is going to be a long one, so sit back and relax...

I've been talking to quite a few people since starting with the Advocare program and starting this blog.  We all seem to have the exact same thing in common;  we are unhappy with our bodies.  Now, all of these ladies do not look like me.  I think we tend to think that the people who are unhappy with their bodies are only the ladies that weigh the exact same as us or more.  FALSE.  I have spoken to girls in their 110's, their 120's, their 150's, their 170's and yes into the 200's.  My genuine guess on the subject is that if we got a Victoria's Secret model on the phone right now, she would have something to complain about as well.

I wanted to post about this because I think it should be better for our kids.  We need to be happier about our bodies people.  Yes, all shapes and sizes.  This task is WAY easier said than done, but I really think I am getting a lot closer to figuring it out.  Progress is what makes us feel good.  We are constantly telling ourselves, when I weigh___, I'll be happier.  If I could just lose 10 pounds...20 pounds...5 pounds...I would be happier.  The truth is you won't.  There will be some part of your body you hate.  I mean yay for losing weight, now let's talk about how our boobs are way smaller than they used to be.  (not to talk all about girls.  I know guys have the same issues).  My point is, I am finding that what makes me happy with my body is progress.  It's not that I've lost X amount of pounds.  It's the fact that I have the energy to go out and play two hours of tennis with my husband 5 or 6 times a week.  It's the fact that when I go to a restaurant I make a better choice.  It's the fact that when I make a sandwich for lunch now I use Ezekiel bread, mustard instead of mayo, and leave it open faced.  These choices will make you happier.  I promise you.  Weight loss will be an added bonus when you start making better choices.

The reason I named this post what I did is because, like everyone else, I can get REALLY  motivated from losing a few pounds, or playing a really good game of softball, or even seeing a picture of a strong girl in a gym looking foxy, but how long does that motivation last?  A day?  Maybe 2?  Right up until someone puts some cheese fries in your face and they smell good?  It seems like it's not only me having this problem....GET MOTIVATED PEOPLE!  There is ALWAYS going to be an excuse.  There are going to be holidays.  There are going to be birthday parties.  There is ALWAYS a reason to put it off until next week.  I mean it's Friday, right?!  And diets only start on Mondays, right?!  This isn't a diet.  This is your health!  It's your life.  I'm ready to stay motivated.  And I'm ready to do it with all of you!

I am extremely happy I did/am doing the Advocare 24 day challenge (day 19 yall!).  It has taught me so much.  This is coming from a girl who knows how to lose weight already, and has done it.  This is different guys.  I don't feel like I'm "dieting" anymore.  I really do feel free finally.  I am not only seeing changes in my body, but in my mind too.  I am staying motivated.  Yes, I have my days like we all do, but when it's all said and done I CANNOT wait to see what my body is going to do next.  I can't wait to see what challenges I am going to face and conquer.  I can't wait to see what temptations are going to come my way that I am going to be ready for!  The positivity I am feeling has been worth every penny I have spent.

PLEASE, PLEASE at least go and read about it.  It's an investment in your body.  And serisouly yall, what better way to stay motivated than to spend a little money on yourself and your health!!

www.advocare.com/130555505

Also, I'm loving all the love and messages I am getting from everyone.  It is so motivating to know we are all going through the same thing.  Keep them coming!!!  And remembe to motivate yourself EVERY DAY!