One More Reason

One more reason to trust AdvoCare.

Earlier this week I came across this chart. It is a list of the nutrition companies that the NFL has banned. Why are they banned by the National Football League? The supplements and substances they provide have been deemed illegal based on NFL rules.

Are you curious as to who is on this list? I thought you might be so here it is.



If the NFL has forbidden their athletes to use nutritional supplements from these companies, would you want to use them? Would you give them to your student athlete?

AdvoCare is proud to say that when you purchase one of our products, you are getting a CLEAN product. In fact, our Informed Choice program is our promise that the product you are using has been tested by an independent testing company and given the "all clean".


The following information came through our e-mail last week. Check out this list of NCAA teams who are using products and seeing the difference!


5 AdvoCare Teams in the TOP 15!
Eric Lichter (Director of Football Performance for The Ohio State University)

Tim Socha (Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for Boise State University)

Jerry Schmidt(Director of Sports Enhancement for the University of Oklahoma)

John Dettmann(Director of Strength and Conditioning for the University of Wisconsin):

Kevin Yoxall (Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Auburn University)

And I just checked, all of these are in the top 15 of the BCS poll, Auburn being in the number one spot.


Thanks for stopping by today! Please let us know if we can answer any questions.

Chad and Stephanie

Susie's Challenge - Update 3

The first nine days of school have been a whirlwind and I haven't posted Susie's next update!

She lost 11 pounds during the 10 Day Cleanse, but delayed starting the MNS MAX 3 pack because her schedule and life was absolutely crazy. I want you to hear her words. Here is what she has to say after a few days of being off product and then starting again.

"I started back on the remaining 14 days of the 24 day challenge yesterday. I weighed before starting. I had gained 4 of my pounds back which honestly I thought it was more. I just felt heavier. As of this morning, I’ve already lost 2 of those. I am officially declaring Spark as the Fountain of Youth. Even after just one day of being back on the program I have more energy. I think to myself, why did I go off of it. I know why, schedules were very sporadic and I kept forgetting to take the pills before and with lunch. I didn’t want to waste my Spark and breakfast drink if I wasn’t going to do the program right. Now I’m back on."

The road to getting healthy and staying healthy is going to have ups and downs. Susie did the right thing, she started again. I am so proud of her!

I'm thrilled to have another family on her seventh day of the Challenge. AND a sweet friend received her box of Challenge goodies today! It's exciting!!

If you would like to learn more about the 24 Day Challenge, please leave a comment or e-mail me at advocarega@gmail.com

Blessings,
stephanie

My Big News

Three years ago when Chad started running, biking and then swimming. I thought he was N.U.T.S. Well, more nuts than I already knew him to be. KIDDING.

The thought of running was enough to break me out in a cold sweat. Have I mentioned my feelings on sweat? We don't get along and I shudder at the thought of it. Sweat and running were good buddies in my mind and because I don't care for one, the other was definitely never going to happen.

Until a month ago. I was feeling guilty about not exercising enough and let's face it, at 35 I needed to be doing more. So I had been thinking that I would get serious about walking. I will even go as far as to say I entertained the idea of running, but that was about it.

About a week or so later, Chad called me from the office. He said he had been thinking about how he was doing the Ironman Augusta in September and even though he was signed up for the Battlefield Marathon in November he felt like it was too close to the Ironman. He didn't want to waste his registration fee, so he asked me if I would train and run the half marathon with him.

I said yes. Within five minutes I had agreed to run 13.1 miles. What was I thinking!!!

We are four weeks into training and so far so good. (I think, ask my trainer for the real story!) I finished my fourth 2 mile run last tonight. To be honest, I'm in shock! Saturday will be my first 3 mile run.

Because I've never used the Performance Elite line of AdvoCare products, I feel like I'm being introduced to a whole new host of products. For the last three runs, I have taken two Nighttime Recovery at bedtime. Each time, I have felt SO much better in the morning! And for someone who suffers from arthritis, I think it says a LOT to be able to run two miles then get up without stiffness the next morning.



You can read more about this product HERE.

We are around 94 days until The Chickamauga Battlefield Half Marathon. 94 DAYS!! I know that with a lot of prayer, serious training and some help from AdvoCare products like Nighttime Recovery, I will finish those 13.1 miles.

Look Who Uses AdvoCare Products!

It's a well known fact that professional athletes like Drew Brees and Colt McCoy use AdvoCare products. BUT today, I was reminded that one of my favorite worship leaders of all time uses AdvoCare products!

Check this page out to see what Michael W. Smith thinks about AdvoCare.


The music this man shares has been such an inspiration and encouragement to me for as long as I can remember. I was thrilled to see that AdvoCare was part of his life.

One more reason that I am thrilled to be part of this organization.

Happy Tuesday!!

Stephanie

Susie 24 Day Challenge Update -2

I have been in and out of town and focused on some family things since my last update on Susie's Challenge, I'm sorry my update has been so delayed! I do have some exciting news!

At the end of the 10 Day Herbal Cleanse, she had lost 11 pounds!! She had a great start and is doing so well.

Susie would tell you that last week was hard for her. There were a couple of days that she forgot to take her 30 minute before lunch pack. It was a crazy week at work and her schedule/routine was nowhere near normal. BUT, she is working hard at this and will continue to see results.

We all have weeks like that and feel like we aren't getting anywhere, but it's important to keep doing what you know is right. Even when you don't see the numbers on the scale moving! To quote my favorite kid's movie "Meet the Robinsons", KEEP MOVING FORWARD!

Last week as we e-mailed about it, she made the comment "I know that this is working." She also said she would continue to be using AdvoCare products after the Challenge because she knew they would help her stay on track to meet her weight loss goal.

She has the correct attitude. This is a lifestyle change and something that will happen over time, not in a couple of weeks. The 24 Day Challenge has jump started the weight loss and I'm so proud of her!

As she winds down the challenge I will share more of her comments. AND I'm hoping that as she continues to work toward her goal, she will let me share some of the ups and downs with you.

Happy Monday to you! We are starting school today so I need to jump off of here and go upstairs to wake my Seventh Grader and my Fourth Grader!!!!

Blessings,
Stephanie

Back To School Time!

It isn't even the first of August and most of us with school age children are in back to school mode! Most of my friends have downloaded school supply lists and made the yearly voyage to stock up on paper, pencils, notebooks and all the other wonderful items that mean SCHOOL IS STARTING SOON!

My mom, a retired teacher, says that the most important thing you can do for your children each and every school day (next to praying for them!) is to feed them a good breakfast. I agree. But, as a mom who is working hard to keep her family healthy this school year, let me encourage you to seriously think about adding AdvoCare to your children's morning routine.

As I was making out the back to school list, there were two AdvoCare products at the top.

First, CorePlex Chewables. (I shared here about our vitamin war) It's so important to develop the habit of a daily vitamin. If your mornings are as crazy as ours, it can be an easy thing to forget. However, once my girls got in the habit, they quickly remind me that they need their CorePlex. (Well, the youngest is!)

Second, is a new product that we LOVE. Purple Champs.



This is some of the information from the Purple Champs product page.

DHA is required in high levels in the brain and retina as a physiologically-essential nutrient to provide for optimal neural functioning (learning ability, mental development) and visual acuity, in young and old alike. Some studies have demonstrated that DHA is important in the brain for regulating attention and controlling behavior, and that concentration levels can be increased by providing a supplement of DHA.

Purple champs are a delicious, acai-flavored chew. Each chew contains 40 mg of DHA and can help meet omega-3 dietary needs. DHA has been shown to demonstrate a myriad of benefits, including:

Helping support normal development of the brain, eyes and nervous system
Important for the maintenance of healthy skin, eyes and hair
Important factor in the maintenance of good health
Contributing to good health and normal growth and development

To learn more about CorePlex Chewables, Purple Champs and a host of other AdvoCare products designed to improve your health, please click HERE.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment, or e-mail me at advocarega@gmail.com

Blessings!
stephanie

Susie's 24 Day Challenge

These are our daughters with their grandmother ZuZu. Zuzu, (Susie!) is taking the AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge.

For those who don't know, the 24 Day Challenge is divided into two parts. First, the 10 Day Herbal Cleanse, followed by 14 days of MNS Max 3.

Today, Susie is on Day 5 of the Cleanse portion. She is doing great and I thought I would share with you some of her comments about her Challenge.


"I’m feeling great today. Before the cleanse I never ate breakfast. I always drank my Starbucks all morning. Now that I’m drinking my Spark and my shake, I do get hungry at 10am every morning. That’s a good thing though. I have my fruit. Normally, I rarely ate fruit – not good! This cleanse is definitely getting my focus on healthier foods. Weight loss or no weight loss, I feel healthier and look healthier! But I KNOW I’ve lost some weight already and I’m just starting day 5. I almost wish I could do this all the time instead of once a quarter. We’ll see what changes come about in Phase II of the 24 Day Challenge. I’m looking forward to it."

Did you notice in Susie's comments that she said her focus was on healthier foods? One thing that I admire about AdvoCare is that you will never hear, "take this pill and drop some pounds." Yes,the 24 Day Challenge is about weight loss, but more importantly it's about making choices that will improve your health. It's changing your focus and making healthy choices in the way you eat, the way you exercise and over time that changes the way you look and feel.

I am so proud of my mother in law for taking this challenge. I can't wait to see what next week holds for her!

Somebody Needed to Recover

It was Sunday morning July 11, 2010. Chad's birthday. He has been training and dreaming about this particular birthday for almost one year. This day was not about cake or gifts. This day was about my husband doing something that just 10 years ago he physically, emotionally and mentally could not have done.

Chad was up at 4:00 Sunday morning preparing to race in the Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon.



This wasn't his first triathlon, but at Olympic Distance, it was his longest. He will tell you his goal was to finish. And he did. He crossed the finish line with a little help from our daughters and our nephew.


I tend to get emotional anytime Chad crosses a finish line. You see it was just a few years ago that I was just thankful that he made it out of bed and to the office. Chad was diagnosed with Crohn's disease just 7 months into our marriage. He has fought this disease and we are so thankful that today, he is healthy enough to compete and COMPLETE any race. ESPECIALLY one of this distance.

One of the AdvoCare products that Chad has been using after his workouts is Nighttime Recovery.

Let me tell you. Between the heat, Crohn's and a leg cramp during the run portion of the race...he wasn't feeling well when it was over. He got up this morning jumping around with the kids, being his typical chipper self. (I'm NOT the morning person in this marriage!)

He looked at me and said, "Nighttime Recovery is a VERY good thing!" He went on to assure me he wasn't running today, BUT...that he felt like if he really wanted to, he could. He uses Nighttime Recovery but until this morning, I did realize the difference it made.



Is this product something you could benefit from? AdvoCare has listed some questions on the Nighttime Recovery page. I'll ask them here.

Is this you?
Someone who regularly exercises or participates in weight training
An athlete who wants to improve your training regimen
An aging senior who wants to build and retain muscle mass

If you are interested in learning more about this product, please click here.

Blessings!
stephanie

Fish Oil and Breast Cancer?

We know that fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids have already been proven to lower the risk of death and heart attack in people with have heart disease. I have shared in the past about Chad's reasons for using OmegaPlex and we continue to see good results. But this morning, I heard about a new study. A study that linked the use of fish oil to a reduced risk of breast cancer. You can read more about that study here.

Here is the thing that caught my attention. (This is a direct quote from the ABC site I linked to above) "They found that women who regularly used fish oil supplements had a 32 percent reduced risk of developing the most common form of breast cancer."

If you are a woman, and especially a woman who is at a high risk for breast cancer, please find out all you can about the study. Talk to your doctor about it and see what he or she thinks. And if you decide that adding fish oil to your diet is a good thing for you,

Check out OmegaPlex.




Go HERE for more details on the AdvoCare product OmegaPlex

Are You Interested in the 24 Day Challenge? If so, I need you!

Good Morning! It's hard to believe it's the 4th of July!!! What happened to June? Where did it go? I feel like we are halfway through the summer and honestly...I'm looking forward to fall and some SEC Football!

It's been a while since I posted anything about the 24 Day Challenge and since this is in the top 3 questions I receive about AdvoCare, I thought I would post the link to the challenge information page. It will answer so many questions and break down what you are doing and when you are doing it.

You can learn more by clicking here

For details, information and an overview of the products listed in the Challenge, go here.

I would LOVE to have two people who would take the challenge and let me pick their brain during the 24 days. Those two people would ideally be willing to share a before/after photo, and some (not ALL) of their "stats". :)

As a thank you for letting me document your journey, I will give you your choice of Spark Energy Drink, or Catalyst.

Are you interested? You can e-mail me at advocarega@gmail.com for more information.

Happy 4th of July!!!

Blessings,
Stephanie

Thinking Pink (Lemonade that is!)

AdvoCare's number one product is Spark.

Spark is a sugar free energy drink packed full of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. This is great tasting product is only 45 calories and it works FAST. Until recently, you could purchase Spark in the Mandarin Orange, Fruit Punch, Grape, Citrus and Cherry flavors.

This morning, I was THRILLED to find that Spark has added a new flavor: PINK LEMONADE!!!! Finally, a girly energy drink!!!

Here is something even better: From now through July 20th, 2010 (or while supplies last): For every box of Spark Pink Lemonade purchased, one dollar will be given to the Brees Dream Foundation. (Drew Brees is the AdvoCare National spokesman and a believer in Advocare Products.) These funds will help advance research in the fight against cancer and provide care, education and opportunities for children in need.


When I read that this morning, it made me even more excited to try Pink Lemonade Spark. Let me know if you try it!

To learn more about Spark, please click here.

SLAM!!!

It's summer! Love that, but the heat. Oh the heat! It's taking everything out of me and we aren't even outside during the warmest part of the day!! For whatever reason, the heat just seems to zap my energy and my ability to think. All I want to do is finish my household chores and take a nap with my kids! This is why I'm crazy about my (almost daily) Slam.

I have been "tweeting" and posting on Facebook about having my afternoon Slam, so I thought I would share a little bit about this product with you.

SLAM is an energy drink. It is 2 ounces of sugar free energy, (without the jitters) that also helps me focus. Because sometimes, my focus needs more focus. (You will get that line only if you have seen the new Karate Kid movie!)

This is a product that I wasn't expecting to be that crazy about. I am a coffee girl. I drink coffee off and on all day. One afternoon in February, I tried the LemonAid flavored Slam and was amazed at how I felt. It gave me the kick start I needed to finish my day, AND I felt more focused. I also noticed that as the afternoon turned into evening I didn't feel sluggish.

After a week of replacing my afternoon coffee with a Slam, I decided to go back to having a cup of coffee in the afternoon. Do you know what happened? I felt horrible come dinner time. I just felt...BLAH, for lack of a better word. I felt sluggish, tired, and there were a couple of days that I had a dull headache.

Understand, this girl loves her coffee! I drink a couple of cups every morning, BUT. My days of keeping a fresh pot at all times are over. Come noon, my coffee pot is cleaned and set for the next morning. When I need an afternoon boost of energy, I drink Slam.

Right now I'm LOVING the Strawberry Blast flavor, but LemonAid is always in my fridge and will probably remain my favorite. :)

You can click HERE to learn more about this product.

One More Reason I'm Crazy About C-Grams

If your like me you grew up hearing your mom say "Drink your orange juice, you need the Vitamin C!" Or, "Eat all your grapefruit, it's full of germ fighting vitamins." While I love grapefruit, (Especially when my in-laws bring us fresh grapefruit from their backyard in Florida!) I just can't drink a lot of orange juice. I just struggle with citrus. C-Grams have come along side the citrus I do consume and help me stay healthy.

Back in April I shared about our experiences with C-Grams. (You can read more here)
I will go ahead and tell you that as I type this on June 9, I have NOT had my yearly sinus/allergy junk that has attacked me for the last 10 years. Normally, I have about a week that just sends me to bed. I loose my voice, have horrible congestion..but I believe that C-Grams have helped me to fight that off this year.

That was THE one reason we started taking C-Grams. However, this week as I watched Good Morning America I heard a well known Doctor say that Vitamin C helps you burn fat while you workout. He talked about eating foods that are full of Vitamin C, but for me I immediately thought of the C-Grams Chad and I take.

There are so many positive things happening in our health since we began taking AdvoCare products. If I had to list my favorite products, C-Grams would be in the top spot.

To learn more, or to purchase C-Grams, click here.

Thanks for stopping in today!

Blessings,
stephanie

The Vitamin War

Since my oldest daughter was a little thing, we have had an on-going vitamin war. I started off using the famous gummie vitamins thinking that because they were similar to a piece of candy, she would not fight me on it. Wrong. She KNEW that sticky gummie bear sitting on her breakfast plate was good for her and she was NOT going to take it. It was a battle of wills and I can honestly say there were mornings I just gave it up. Now that my girls are a little older and we are on the go more than ever, I am a little more intense about making sure they are getting their vitamins.

It's been almost a month now since we exchanged our old gummie vitamins for this AdvoCare product:



I am thrilled to say that our vitamin war has came to an end. Our youngest told me a couple of weeks after we started CorePlex Chewables that "I LOVE these vitamins so much more than the gross gummies." Our oldest is still not crazy about taking a vitamin every day, but other than the eye roll when I place it on her breakfast plate, she takes it with no comment. THAT is huge! I'm sure any mother of a middle school girl totally gets this. :)

If you have children 4 years or older may I strongly suggest that you take a look at adding CorePlex Chewables to your morning routine? You can find more info and place orders here.

Stephanie's Journal Wrap Up

I made it!!! And feel great!

I have lost a few pounds and have a few more to go. It doesn't help when you spend a holiday weekend with family eating all your favorites. :) I am not ashamed to say that I did have a dessert or two (okay 3 or 4) over the holiday weekend. BUT, I did take a nice walk on Monday in the heat with one of my 3 year old nieces on my hip!!! (See, I'm trying to make myself feel better.)

For me this product did exactly what it said it would do. I could tell a difference in my appetite and feel that I'm on my way to eating smarter and healthier.

Since we traveled over the weekend, I found that I did not drink as much water each day. That is one drastic change for me. WATER. Not tea, lemonade, or the occasional soda, but water. I LOVE those drinks, but if I'm not getting enough water I feel blah. (Great adjective isn't it?)

So where do I go from here?

Well, I will continue to exercise as I have been. (Yoga, walking and swimming now that summer is here) Drinking lots of water of course and I will be taking my CorePlex Chewables. (More on this product later in the week.)





I feel that using MNSMAX C has helped me to focus on being smarter about what goes into my body. For someone who would just grab a Little Debbie snack cake and a coke for lunch...(no, I am not kidding) this is huge.

Thanks for taking this journey with me! If you have any questions, please leave me a comment. I would love to share more with you!

Blessings,
Stephanie

Stephanie's Journal Days 9, 10 and 11!

Days 9 and 10 of MNS Max C

I'll be real honest and say that I have been fighting a headache for 3 days. This is why I didn't post yesterday. I have kept up my water but honestly, haven't felt like cooking OR eating.

Our schedule this week has been crazy and we have not had a family dinner since Monday. Everyone has been grabbing quick meals and leftovers on the go. This on top of the nagging headache has made it more difficult to eat healthy. I'll confess that I did have fast food Tuesday night. And it had been a while since I've had any. Yes, it was good! BUT, I felt so sluggish after eating it that I'm not sure I really care to have it again!


I can tell a difference in my appetite. I'm not having the afternoon "I'm starving" feeling around 3:30 or 4:00 like I usually get. When we sit down for meals, I am hungry, but find that I'm done before the food on my plate is gone. I do NOT feel guilty for not eating everything. I'm just full faster. :)

While I LOVE my afternoon strawberry Slam, yesterday I did have a cup of coffee. Today, I will be having the Slam. I could tell a HUGE difference about an hour or so after the coffee. With the Slam, I feel more alert, energized and ready to tackle the next project. Yesterday about an hour or so after my cup of coffee, I just felt sluggish. The headache wasn't helping I'm sure, but I felt worse AFTER the coffee that used to kick start me in the afternoon!

Today, I'm doing a little yoga, drinking lots of water and catching up on some much needed housework!

Hard to believe it is day 11 of 14 days with this product. I'm looking forward to seeing what the next few days hold!

Stephanie's Journal Days 6-8 1/2 Way There!

May 24, 2010

Over the weekend, I did not stop long enough to do a journal entry. So today I'm just going to re-cap day 6 and 7 and then to Check the Scale Monday.

Day 6 & 7

It was hard for me to get my water in this weekend. We had a busy two days and I did not carry enough water bottles with me. That made for three days in a row that I did not meet my personal water goal. :) Today...I'm pretty close to it.

Day 8

That's today and it's Monday so that means it is CHECK THE SCALE day.

I'm happy to say that I have lost a little more than 1/2 a pound. :) Not much, BUT it is a start. Remember, for me this is more about eating healthy and smart and getting on the road to a healthier lifestyle. I feel strongly that as I do this the last 10 pounds will come off.

Thanks to my off and on committment to the Shred over the fall and winter, I'm very happy to report that last years swimsuit is too big! I put it on this morning and well...it was just too big. I had to pull out my standby black tank to take the girls to the pool. It was also too big. It will be okay for sitting in the sun, but there is no way I could get in the water in it!! THAT made me feel good and I'm going to wait a couple of weeks before I purchase a new suit. Very cool!

I'm at the halfway point with the MNS MaxC product.. loving it and the changes I see taking place.

Now, I'm off to finish up the weekend laundry and try to get a walk in.

Happy Monday!
stephanie

Stephanie's Journal Day 5

May 21, 2010

Day 5

Five days in and my weight has gone down. About 1/2 pound. :) I have been good about NOT getting on the scale, but figured I would just see since we are on day 5. I keep reminding myself that this is NOT about weight, but about being healthy. However, I found myself obsessing about the number yesterday and today. Not a good thing for me. I know that I need to set some boundaries SO...

I'm going to make Monday my Check the Scale day. I will be weighing early on Monday mornings from here on out. (This will help me to NOT blow it on the weekend.)

Today was an off day for me. I overslept and my morning routine was off. Instead of having breakfast between 7:00 and 8:00, I did not eat until 9:00. I have not had as much water today and just feel sluggish. I know it's from the crazy morning, so we are turning in early tonight.

We have a pretty busy weekend, planned so I will probably combine day 6 and 7 on Sunday evening.

Thanks for stopping by today! We are so glad you are here.

Stephanie's Journal Day 4

May 20, 2010

Day 4 Today was a bit busier than normal and I'm just now sitting down to journal. It's late and I've got an early morning so forgive my short entry!

Food for today:

Breakfast: Oatmeal, water, coffee
Lunch: Soup/Crackers Water
Dinner: Family was gone so I had a snack dinner. Crackers/cheese and fruit

Water: I got a little more than my 64 ounces today!!!

I will say that today I had an extra cup of coffee. (Only because I met some friends for coffee and to talk Bible study. Two of my favorite things.)

Overall I have felt okay today. Not really hungry at all come to think of it. Probably because we were busy and I was not thinking about what I was fixing for dinner!

I'm very excited about the changes I have made in my life and I look forward to seeing the results!

Talk to you tomorrow!

Stephanie's Journal Day 3

May 19, 2010

Day 3. Maybe because I didn't fall asleep until after 1:00 this morning, or maybe because it is Wednesday...whatever the reason I am dragging today. I will be having a strawberry Slam in an hour or so. Those always give an energy boost!

It could be because I did have a nice walk/run last night while the girls were in Karate. Not sure how far, but I'm almost positive Chad can tell me! I walked/ran the perimeter of our church campus. I have NEVER noticed just how many inclines there are! Goodness.

Overall, I feel good! I'm finding that I am hungry at meal time, but not so much in between. (with the exception of after my walk/run last night..I felt like I could have eaten an entire bucket of fried chicken! BUT, I didn't!)

Today I had: oatmeal, water and coffee at breakfast.

A cup of coffee while I had my quiet time.

For lunch: potato soup and tomato basil wheat thins with water to drink and YES:

I had a small serving of peach cobbler. The cobbler was our American Idol treat last night. I had an even smaller portion last night and you know what? THAT is probably why I had trouble going to sleep!

WATER: Yesterday at this point I was pretty close to getting my water ounces in. Today, not so much. I'm working on my second bottle not sure I will get in the full amount. (My goal is 64 ounces a day)

EXERCISE: Used the Wii Fit plus for Yoga. Also used it for some aerobics. (Ran with Chloe and won!) Taking a walk outside and then working in the yard a little. Yes, I count working in the yard because it's physical and I will sweat. :)

This is the link to the Trim page of the AdvoCare line. In case you are just joining this journey, I'm using the MNS MAX C. This product is focused on core nutrition and appetite control.

Thanks for stopping by today! Leave us a comment and say Hi!!!

Blessings,
stephanie

Stephanie's Journal Day 2

May 18, 2010

Day 2.

Another day and still feeling strong. Once again, I had oatmeal for breakfast and much to my surprise, was "full" way before I was done.

I have already had 48 ounces of water and working on my next 16 ounces. My goal is to finish this 16 and then get one more 16 ounce bottle in today.

After breakfast and quiet time with the Lord, I spent an hour exercising. It was a combination of yoga and some "fun" exercise with the Wii Fit Plus. I'm struggling with the Shred right now. I seem to be getting a killer headache when I do it, so I'm just finding other ways to get some exercise in.

Tonight, I plan to take a walk while my girls are in karate. Should be able to get in a couple of miles while they are in class.

My Blackberry reminded me at 11:00 to take my 30 min. before lunch packet. I did, but lunch was ready before that 30 minutes was up. I was halfway through my tuna on whole wheat before I realized it. I had only waited 15 minutes. I waited until I completed my meal before I took the "with lunch" packet.

I was hungry at lunchtime today, and ate my entire sandwich. And a SMALL serving of chips. Bad I know. But I didn't go crazy.

I'll just be real honest and say that while I want to drop these 10 pounds, when it comes to diet/exercise I have never ever been this strict with myself. This is new territory for me and I'm asking God to help me NOT obsess over this. I know what a healthy weight is for my height and that is where I want to be.

Okay, the rest of the day:

I'm planning on having a Strawberry Slam around 1:30 or 2:00, IF the girls and I don't make peach smoothies for an afternoon treat.

Dinner tonight will be homemade soup and cheese toast. (On whole wheat bread)

I'll go ahead and say that we will probably have a special treat (aka dessert), during American Idol tonight. My portion will just be smaller than what I would normally eat. :)

After two days, I feel good. Still encouraged and excited to be working toward my goal. I know that this is the start of a lifestyle change for me. I'm serious about becoming healthier. After all, we are only given one body, one life. There are things I want to do and things God has planned for me to do. I want to be a good steward of this body and my life so that I can accomplish those things. It's not about being thin, this journey is about being healthy.

Stephanie's Journal Day 1

Here we go! In true journal fashion, I'm going to share how I'm feeling each day. Also, I'm Making simple notes about meals/snacks and exercise. When these two weeks have passed, I want to be able to look back and this journal and have a good picture of how I felt each day.

I have to say, one thing that is helping me is that there is no question of what to take when.

You can see in this picture that there are four individually wrapped sections. On the reverse side, it says "Take 30 mins. BEFORE breakfast", "Take 30 mins. BEFORE lunch" or "Take WITH breakfast or Lunch". It's "stephanie" proof! :)




May 17,2010

Day 1.

Got up very excited to start the MNSMAX C product.


I got up, took the 30 minutes before breakfast pack, and had some quiet time before breakfast.

Breakfast consisted of oatmeal, coffee and water. I took my with breakfast pack and felt fine.

Almost forgot to take my 30 minutes before lunch pack. SO, I set a reminder on my Blackberry for each day. I know that this particular pack will be the one I have problems remembering.

By the end of lunch (leftover pasta and roasted veggies) I'm done with the supplements for the day. All four packets are empty and I feel good.

It's about 3:15 right now and I am surprisingly not hungry. The girls and I usually have a fruit snack or popcorn in the afternoon, today I really do not want anything.

Over the last week, I have increased the amount of water I drink, and today I'm a little behind what I have gotten used to drinking so I do feel thirsty.

I did weigh this morning, but will NOT be sharing that here!!! Goodness no. :)
I will say again that I'm working on getting rid of the last 10 pounds of "baby" weight.

Exercise. Today I intended to do the Shred level 1. BUT, instead have been working in the yard and attempting to catch up on laundry. I'm thinking the landscaping stones I've been moving most of the morning can be considered weights. :) I'm headed now to do some yoga.

See you Tuesday!

It's Summer and I'm Getting Serious

Serious about my health. I know we normally see a health awareness push in late December early January, but for me...I feel it in the summer.

This year I've decided that I'm going to do more than just think about shedding the last 10 pounds of baby weight. (It's about time since our babies are 11 and 9!!!)

With that in mind, I ordered this:




She arrived Friday afternoon and I'm ready to start! Come Monday morning I will begin using this product as well as making some changes in my diet and exercise.
Over the next two weeks I will be blogging daily about my experience with this product. I'm looking forward to it!

Thanks for stopping by today! We are so glad you are here. I hope you'll check back in Monday as I start this journey!

Blessings,
stephanie

A Healthy Heart! That is What We're After!

Almost two years ago Chad went in for his yearly physical. Imagine our surprise when almost a week later his doctor's office called to schedule an appointment to discuss the results of his lab work. We were floored and didn't know what to expect.

Chad came home the next day with news that absolutely terrified me. He was told to totally change his lifestyle, diet, and step up the exercise. His good cholesterol was practically nonexistent and his bad cholesterol was off the charts. That in combination with a family history of heart disease, he was a heart attack waiting to happen. Things had to change.

SO. We changed our diet. He was already riding his bike, but added running and swimming. We as a family began to make healthier choices. Chad was/is determined to do this without a prescription. His doctor gave us some ideas and Chad took them and ran with it.

Over the last two years he has worked HARD. We were thrilled to discover that so much of what his doctor has suggested he try is available in AdvoCare products. Fish oil was one of the first thing his doctor had him start taking. AdvoCare offers a GREAT product called OmegaPlex.



He has been very pleased with the OmegaPlex. In fact, at his last physical we saw some improvement in all his numbers.

Here are a few tidbits of information on 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*

This journey to a healthy heart is full of choices. The choice to choose grilled fish instead of fried chicken. The choice to get up early for a run instead of sleeping that extra hour. Choices.

We are seeing the results of healthy choices. AdvoCare products like OmegaPlex are working hand in hand with those choices to make a difference in the heart health of my husband.

I pray you never receive news like we received two years ago. But if you do, can I encourage you to take a look at the AdvoCare products? If you have any questions, Chad and I would be honored to help you!

You can learn more about OmegaPlex here.

Blessings,
stephanie

Pollen Pollen Everywhere

Yellow. Our back patio, our cars, our mailbox. Anything outside seems to be covered in some sort of yellow nasty we call pollen. Our family, including my parents, suffer from seasonal allergy issues. By this time each year I, along with my mother, my husband and my youngest daughter have been to the doctor for sinus, allergy junk.

This year has been different. Despite record high pollen counts we have all avoided the miserable sinus/allergy problems. Chad and I both, along with my mother have been taking C-Grams. The three of us have seen a huge improvement this year. We believe that the dramatic change in our bodies response to the arrival of Spring, can only be the result of taking our C-Grams.

My mom is convinced that these have kept her well during cold and flu season as well. She keeps my four year old nieces several days each week and despite their runny noses and tummy viruses, mom has remained healthy.

Seasonal Support is another product that can make a huge difference during this time of year. I have not taken this product long enough to give a personal testimony to it's effect, BUT. I feel quite confident that it along side a C-Gram will do wonders for those of us who suffer seasonal allergies.



C-Gram and Seasonal Support are both part of the Well line and can be found on this page of our AdvoCare website.

24 Day Weight Loss Challenge

For years, I have watched women celebrities "bounce back" to their pre-baby bodies FAST and wondered how in the world do they do that? How does a normal human body just transform like that?

This topic came up one time among a group of my girlfriends. We decided that if we had thousands of dollars to spend on private trainers, personal chefs, nutritionists to oversee each morsel that enters our bodies AND a couple of nannies to watch our children while we spent HOURS working on "us", we could do it too!

Well...I can honestly tell you that not one person in that group had ANY of those things. It's frustrating isn't it! We all knew that the only way we were going to "bounce back" was to do it the old fashioned way. Watching what we eat and exercise. But, goodness, it sure would have been nice to have had someone tell me what to do and when to do it! I'm thrilled to tell you that the AdvoCare 24-Day Weight Loss Challenge has done just that!

AdvoCare has done the prep work for you. Literally, you are given the tools you need and told what to do, when to do it.... how simple is that?

It is that simple, and I'll go ahead and tell you that I'm the world's biggest skeptic. AdvoCare has done all the hard work, combined the products you need into a kit complete with a checklist, AND a grocery list!!! (Oh how I love a checklist!)


Here are some quick facts about the 24 Day Weight Loss Challenge:

1. It combines a number of AdvoCare “Staple” products together to give you focused, quick, proven results-getting your nutrition balanced and on track in less than a month.

2. As a consumer, you’re able to purchase one bundle of products for one price, and this saves you money! The 24 Day Challenge is a great place to start for about 90% of those new to AdvoCare.

3. Included in the price of the 24 Day Challenge is the support and coaching of your personal AdvoCare distributor.

The 24 Day Challenge is broken down into two phases. Phase one is a Cleanse Phase (Cleanse Pack Phase). Phase two is the Maximizing Phase (Max Pack Phase).

Click here for a links directly to the 24 Day Challenge Info Packet in PDF format that you can print out with all the wonderful details.

One thing that impresses me about this challenge is that when it's over you aren't being told to eliminate meat, or cheese or even dessert! (In moderation of course!) AdvoCare products help you maintain a healthy body.

Are you interested in hearing more? There is a no pressure information only FREE conference call on Wednesday, February 10 at 9:30 pm. (eastern time) If you are interested Chad or I will be glad to give you the phone number and access code, just e-mail us at advocarega@gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by! If we can answer any questions feel free to e-mail or leave a comment.

Blessings,
Stephanie

Stephanie's Take On.....Joint ProMotion

As a high school senior, I was diagnosed with arthritis. I hated, and still do for that matter, HATE to take any sort of medication. However, I needed medication to function without the annoying symptoms of arthritis. (Plus, our P.E. instructor was a drill sergeant and a little thing like arthritis was not an acceptable excuse for limited activity!)

As I entered my twenties, the consistent pain seemed to fade. I still dealt with arthritis, but it was not near as bad as it had been in my teen years.

Over the last few years, I've noticed that I am dealing with the pain a little more than I did in my twenties.

For about a month now I have been taking the Joint ProMotion. While I haven't been completely pain free, I can tell a BIG difference in how I feel. The best way I know to describe it to you is by saying:

Do you know what it feels like when you KNOW you need to pop your fingers? That tight, annoying, burning and sometimes painful feeling? That simple pop seems to relieve the pressure doesn't it? That is what arthritis feels like to me.

Since I've been taking Joint ProMotion, that tight feeling has pretty much gone away. I don't have the urge to "pop" my fingers. My knees and back don't ache like they did. Sure, I have had some of the arthritis issues but I can honestly say that I can tell a difference. I can actually do my complete workout without joint pain.

If you are interetsed in reading more about this product, please click on the link in the sidebar to go straight to our site, OR send me an e-mail and I will do my best to answer any questions you have.

Have a blessed week!
stephanie

Welcome to our blog

Thanks for stopping by and visiting our new blog.

Our family is brand spanking new to AdvoCare products and business. We have some friends who have been using AdvoCare health supplements for years and absolutely swear by how good these products have been for their family. We are always looking for ways to make our family more healthy and improve our overall quality of life. So we have made the decision to begin to try the different AdvoCare products and see how we do.

As for the business side, honestly, in this economy who isn't looking for a way to either cut costs and save money, or a way to bring in money to your budgets. We see this as an opportunity for our family to work together in several different avenues, to add to our budget, without having to work a regular part-time job and be gone from home even more. From everything I have seen and read about AdvoCare, I believe they offer us the opportunity to do this.

So what will you get from this blog... our experiences. Those of you who know us, know that we aren't much for sugar coating things. We will be telling you about our experiences using these products, the good, the bad, & the ugly. We will be talking about starting our AdvoCare Distributorship and all the things that go with it.

Our hope is that through our sharing here, we will be able to make this much more personal for you (as opposed to some of the other sites we have seen where all they want to do is sell you something or sign you up), maybe get you to try some of these new things with us and share your experiences with us, and maybe, just maybe, in the process you'll think about starting your own AdvoCare Distributorship and go on this journey with us.

So to start with, one of the things we are going to be doing is an email newsletter to keep all of our customers, and potential customers, informed of new products, sales, and business opportunities. Help us out and sign up to receive our email updates on the left hand side of this blog. We promise not to overwhelm you with emails.

As an incentive to get you to sign up, we are giving away a 12 pack of AdvoCare Slam - you have to be one of the first 100 people to sign up to receive our email. Once we get 100, I'll randomly pick a name and have it sent to your home. You'll just need to let me know if you want Power Punch or Octane Orange flavor.



So thanks again for stopping by & we hope you'll come back and keep up with us and what we're doing. We look forward to hearing from you and getting your feedback.