Advocare 24 Day Challenge - RESULTS! :)

Well here we are. . . Day 25. I know it's a 24 day challenge, but day 25 is the hardest.  There are no "rules" to follow.  Do you continue with this lifestyle or do you stuff your face and blow up all your hard work?  I continue!  I continued last year with great success.  I was stronger last year.  There were no cravings. .  . no desire to stuff my face.  That's not so true this year.  But I'm focused and trying really hard to find that strength I had last year.  I can't deny I have cravings and I'm not sure why cause I kicked that during the challenge last year.  But here I am. . .  as such, for my cravings I made Advocare protein balls, using their meal replacement shake.   I've never ever made these in all this time doing Advocare.  They turned out a bit dry and I might tweak the recipe next time, but it sure did make me feel like I had a sweet snack last night.

I realized yesterday that I took (and posted to FB) a photo of breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Geesh.  I don't know what got into me.  But this is what I ate - minus the snacks (and yes I snack - often)

A shake for breakfast, tuna "salad" (tuna, pickle relish and eggs) on top a bed of quinoa for lunch and a new recipe - Autumn Minestrone Soup for dinner.  All of these were YUM!!  When I really eat clean I crave that lunch combo all the time.  I don't question it.  I just eat it. My snacks were carrots and hummus, strawberries and cashews . . the protein ball after dinner.  And handfuls of grapes every now and again. I snack often and a lot.  If I get hungry I blow it.  Big time.

---

So the results. . .

I'm down 9.6 pounds.  

I don't have a before of the fat %, but it was 32.8.  So I'm down only 0.6% in fat.  I thought that was a bit on the low side. 

As for the inches, I lost a total of 6.5 inches broken down like this:

Chest: -2
Waist: -2
Hips: -2
Thigh: -0.5

Overall I'm pleased with the results.  I had hoped for more.  And I had hoped to reach 183.  Why that number?  I was lower last year (in the 170's) when I got sick.  I bounced to 181-183 and held there for some time.  My body likes that range and I wanted to get back there during the challenge and proceed to get myself over that hump.  But I will get there. . . I am motivated. 

One thing that motivates me is before and after pics because you can "see" the difference.  I'm very suspicious of many before and after photos.  I think many are rigged in some way: clothing, camera angle. . . I wear the same clothes, take the photo in the same place in my house and do the same poses.   

You probably have to make that bigger to see, but the differences are there.   And that's motivating to me for sure!!!!
\
My husband did the challenge with me.  He lost 8.2 lbs and 5.5 inches.  I can visibly see him shrinking.  I guess cause you can always see progress in others before yourself.  We are always so critical of ourselves.  

I really want to see the 170's and reach a certain hole (that I punched last year) on my belt.  So those are my next goals.  I felt like I did so much better on the challenge last year but I need to stop downplaying this year's results.  I think I struggled more this year regardless of the numbers that resulted.  Mentally is was harder and I was discouraged by that.  I love the challenge though and I love the Advocare product line.  So the goals are within reach!  I just gotta get there. 

I made this fun collage of some of the food I've eaten over the past 24 days. 

Encouragement needed

I've gained a solid 10 lbs since I got sick.  I was around 178 when I got sick.  I'm now 188.0. 

I really wanted to kick, scream, cry. . . throw a two year old temper tantrum this morning.  But this is *my* fault.  I own it.  I've been eating like crap.  I've been drinking soda.  I'll do go for a day at most and then it's back to crap eating. 

I don't often use this fat monitor, as you can tell by how dirty the screen is.   I was running late for work (as always) so I didn't feel like making it pretty for a picture.  But I'm up about 2% I think.  Again I don't use this thing that often, so hard to know what my lowest was.  But I don't think I ever got below 30%. 

And this is why I'm gaining weight. . . I'm doing things like this.  This is a Gus' Pretzel. . . it's a St Louis thing - they've been around since 1920.  And that's a Shock Top in my hand.  And yes it's a playoff game.  And yes, it's the Cardinals and the Cubs.  It's historic.  But whatever.  I can't keep eating like this.  So I've got to buckle down.  I have another playoff game Thursday (if we make it that far).   My goals are to be pretty damn perfect between now and then. 

I welcome all advice for how to get back on the wagon.  I know people struggle with this.  I know that this isn't rare.  What do you do to get back on track?  Cause I gotta stop the scale before it hits 190.  I've worked hard for this!   I can't let it slip away. 

To step off on the right foot, this is breakfast:

25 pounds . . . and my "roll"

Whoop! Whoop!!!!!!!

25.6 lbs down!  *Finally*   186 was the 25 lb mark and I was 186.4 the day I left for Europe.  Gosh it took me a bit to finally see this.  And what else do you see???   Finally a "normal" BMI.  The last time I used the fat monitor my BMI was over 27 and it was "high".  Woo hoo!!!!  

Yesterday I woke up wither either allergies or a head cold.  How do you tell?  I never though I had allergies until these past several years.  Blah!  My throat was scratchy, my eye itched, my nose was a leaky faucet.  . . that all probably helped me see this number on the scale.  I just didn't feel much like eating, but I did run 3 miles, ride Eli and do errands.  So I was active. I ate a crap ton of fruit cause when I have a sore throat I like food to go down and scratch/rub it.  :)  Strange I know.

---

Saturday we went to out first Cardinals game of the year.  I got a new shirt before I left for Europe and I gotta tell you I felt like I looked good and bad at the same time. The shirt didn't hide much cause it was fitted and white.   I had my hubby take a photo. 

*ALL* I see in this photo is my dreaded fat roll.  Ugh.  I told my hubby to let me know when it's showing.  I can hide it.  I can stand in ways that hide it.  I just don't always know when it's making an appearance.  I had him take one from the waist up cause I was afraid it was showing.  That's the one I posted to FB. :)   I swear. . . .   back in the day I had this friend who has quite the belly pooch.  We would shop a lot together.  She was jealous of the fact that I didn't seem to have a pooch.  I would say that isn't true and never was.  But my stomach has always been less poochy than hers.  However she doesn't have a muffin top roll.  She once said she wouldn't give up her pooch if it meant having a roll.  Cause she sees how hard it is to hide.  However, even though I hate it, I'm pleased with my progress and how I look :) 

I'm really trying hard not to push Advocare on my FB.  I get sick and tired of friends that only post about shit they sell.  But it's hard cause I'm so excited about it.  I just never dreamed I'd reach 25 lbs this early in the year.  Really I thought it'd be fall before I saw the 180's.  This is exciting.  I feel good, have more energy, have clearer skin. . . .and I get excited talking about it.  I want to help everyone! :)  But I know I have to wait and let them tell me when they are ready. 

20 pounds!!!

Whoop whoop!  Today I got on the scale after a horrid night's sleep and I clocked in at a 20 pound loss!  I'm super excited.  The weight is coming off slowly.  And it goes up and down.  I ate lunch out twice this week, much to my dismay. The scale went up two days in a row.  I also had a headache from hell after eating some cheese and bread.  I ate bread the day before but no cheese. So maybe I am sensitive to cheese.  I did test sensitive to casein, the protein in cheese.  So this wouldn't be a surprise, but it would suck cause that headache was horrible.  Maybe it was unrelated.  Who knows.   

I made a little tiny bit of progress on the fat %.  That's always slow going.  I really hope the scale wasn't a fluke cause I'm beyond happy.  And I need some happy in my life right now due to the stress of work.  Next goal is 189.  I want to see the 180's!  I think I can get there! :) 

2 weeks of the yo-yo

I feel like I'm getting no where.  3 weeks ago I was at 203.0 

Today . . . 

That's where I was last Friday as well.  So basically I'm not getting anywhere.  I'm less than I was 2 weeks ago, when I posted about a gain. But geesh. . .    I think there are a few factors here.  I'm not strict enough on the weekends.  So I go up a couple pounds and fight like hell to get back to a good Friday weight. 

I'm discouraged, but I also feel like in some way my body is starting to tone.  I was at my barn last night wearing lightweight shorts and a t-shirt.   I had a Dr appt and wore the lightest clothing I own.  A lady asked me if I was losing weight.  I said it was an optical illusion cause I'm not in breeches.  She said no I don't think so, weren't you wearing breeches and a pink top last night?  I said yes.  She said 2 people mentioned to her that I was losing weight.  Hmm.  Why can't they tell me?  That's certainly motivating to say the least.  If my fat % monitor was showing a loss I'd believe that I was looking smaller, but it's not.  However, I think I'll keep on the same path and see where I go.   Maybe with a bit less back to back days of running. . . . 

Last night I had a Dr appt.  I see a naturopath Dr for my thyroid but she has become my primary Dr.  We talked about my afternoon fatigue and possible adrenal support.   Stress really messes up the adrenal glands and they help the thyroid.   So she put me on ashwagandha - a herb - twice a day for adrenal support.   We briefly talked about running and I mentioned that I don't lose weight and that I seem to slowly gain.  She said too much stress on the body and the adrenals are releasing cortisol.   So this herb will help out.   Well. . . I find that I get myself in this rut of having to run run run every day.  At lunch this week I ran M-W.  I forced myself not to run yesterday and quite frankly it was hard.  Of course it was about the best weather day of the week so that didn't help.   But I think running 7-10 days in a row, even when many of the weekday runs are just 2 miles, might not be the best thing.  So I need to shake it up some more.  It's just *so* easy to run at lunch and then not have to deal with it the rest of the day.  So I'm going to ponder this some more and think about what to do.  I still want to do a fall half marathon so maybe now is the time to relax my running to just 3-4 days a week.   However, today is one of those days.  I love my Friday runs.  I run 3 miles and then I pick up a Imo's salad lunch special.  It's my one "bad" lunch that I get during the week at work.  Since I run right before I don't feel so bad.  As the best time to eat would be right after a run. 

I should also mention that I asked my doc about doing a round of HCG in the fall.  It would have to be after my marathon and that's getting really close to the holidays.  So I'm not too sure. But if I can't get below 200 and stay there on my own I might do another round.  I have to get myself in the mental state though and that's tough.  I would like to have birthday cake on my birthday and that would likely not happen due to the timing of this round based on when I want to do a marathon.  But it would be worth it I think? 

On the 4th of July I was off and while I did photograph the scale I didn't post.   We went to a Cardinals game that evening.  (one of the reason my weight goes up - dang ballpark food and drinks)

Here is a selfie and a view from our seats in one photo.  I need to make use of dual camera mode more often.  Though my eyes are practically closed here. 

Following the game there was a fireworks show.  It was just so awesome.  Everyone stayed in their seats and there was anticipation in the air.  Almost like an encore at a concert.   The show was really well done and the fireworks were released all the way around the stadium so every seat had a great view.  These were the only fireworks we saw this year and they were fantastic. Unfortunately I suck at photographing them so many of my photos don't do them justice.  They are tricky to photograph. 

Have a great weekend! :)