The AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge:Day 5

Spark is giving me AMAZING energy levels!

We're on day 5 of the challenge and I am feeling so awesome! The biggest difference for me has been my energy levels. I used to have this daily roller coaster with my energy going from low when I woke up, to high after my coffee, to low after lunch. And now Spark has seemed to really help even-out my energy level throughout the day. I am feeling more focused at work and no longer having that afternoon "I Can't Concentrate" feeling.

I am really starting to get curious to know if I am losing weight and inches too. Just the increased energy I am having is enough for me to say this cleanse is a success but if I end up losing a few lbs and/or inches that would make it an even better success.

But don't take my word for it ...

Find out more about the 24 day challenge by clicking here.

Purchase the 24 day challenge by clicking here. 

Lindsay's Day

Food: Kashi cereal. Salad with rice, black beans, sauteed peppers & onions, corn, avocado, and tomato salsa. Turkey brat. Salad. Asparagus.

Energy Level: Awesome! I cannot explain what a difference there is with energy levels throughout the day! Consistent verses rise & fall.

Exercise: Rest day. Although, I walked to the park with my sister-in- law, my niece, and Micah.

Success: Energy, energy, and more energy!

Challenge: Friday nights are usually pizza & beer nights at our house. So I'm missing my pizza and Coors Light, but the weather tonight and the walk to the park helped to distract me :)

John's Day

Food: Raisin Bran. A couple handfuls of unsalted peanuts. Carrots. An apple. Ham, pepperjack cheese on wheat with lettuce & tomato. Carrots. Naked fruit smoothie. Fat free yogurt. Turkey brat. Salad. Asparagus.

Energy Levels: Slowly getting better. This is still John's biggest struggle - maintaining consistent energy.

Exercise: Weights (abs) Cardio - 2.5 on elliptical in 22 minutes (John told me to put the time! ;)

Success: Overcoming his cravings for coffee.

Challenge: Really craved coffee today.

The AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge:Day Day 4

Here's the day 4 highlights! As I type this I am at the beginning of day 5 and feeling really awesome! Seriously cannot believe the energy I have throughout the day. I'm so excited to see the results from the 10 day cleanse and move on to the 14 day max phase of the challenge! 

Learn more about the 24 Day Challenge.

Purchase the 24 Day Challenge.

Lindsay's Day

Food: Kashi cereal. Celery. Blueberries. Carrots. Cherry tomatoes. Salad. AdvoBar. Chicken noodle casserole (egg noodles). Peas.

Energy Levels: Great

Exercise: Lunges. Dead leg lifts. Squats. Stretches. Ran 3.4 miles.

Success: Feeling really good today - full of energy, healthy, focused. Plus it was nice to be able to run outside today :)

Challenge: Really starting to miss salt and realizing just how much I use.

John's Day

Food: Raisin Bran. A couple handfuls of unsalted peanuts. Banana. Apple. Fat free yogurt. Sugar free pudding. Left over spaghetti with meat sauce (whole grain pasta & lean ground beef). Carrots. Apple juice. Chicken noodle casserole (egg noodles). Peas.

Energy Levels: Pretty good. No dip in energy levels despite giving up coffee, pop, & 5 hour energy. Replaced all caffeinated drinks with Spark. Drinking 3 Sparks a day.

Exercise: Weights ( biceps & triceps) Cardio - 2.5 miles on the elliptical.

Success: John's considering every day he does the cleanse "without cheating" a success.

Challenge: Meal planning. Giving up coffee, pop, tea, continues to be a challenge.

I also realized I've been forgetting to record our water intake. We've both been drinking a lot of water, which isn't a huge change for us. About 70 - 80 ounces for me (Lindsay) and 100-120 for John.

The 24 Day Challenge: Day 3

Lindsay's Day

Food: Lots of fruit & veggies - banana, celery, carrots, salad, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, green beens, snap peas, blue berries, and strawberries. An AdvoBar. Chicken. Flourless peanut butter banana muffins (thanks Timyra for the recipe!)

Energy Level: Good - consist energy all day.

Exercise: Stretching, squats, dead leg lifts, bridges, lunges.

John's Day

Food: Raisin Bran, banana, celery, carrots, apple, 2 turkey sandwiches on wheat, low fat cottage cheese, chicken, salad, greens beans.

Energy Levels: Better today than last 2 days. More consistent energy throughout the day.

Exercise: Walking

For this post, I did our successes and challenges and together.

Successes: We're both starting to feel consistent energy throughout the day. We just feel better - we can tell the toxins are being flushed out of our systems.

Challenges: Making good food choices and avoiding processed food, dairy, coffee, sugar, etc.

The AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge: Day 2

Today we received the Catalyst and extra Spark I ordered last week! Catalyst is a supplement that you can take in conjunction with the 24 Day Challenge to assist with maintaining lean muscle mass as you burn fat through exercise. To learn more about Catalyst and other AdvoCare products, click here. 

Lindsay's Day 2

Food:  Kashi wheat cereal. Lots of fruits and vegetables (celery, carrots, blue berries, orange, banana). Turkey sandwich on wheat bread. Spaghetti with meat sauce (lean ground beef, whole grain pasta) and salad for dinner. 

Energy Levels: Great! I had a high, steady level of energy all day. This is different than my usual energy levels, which was a caffeine (coffee) induced energy high in the morning that bottomed out after lunch leaving me feeling tired and unable to concentrate.

Exercise: Ran 4 miles

Success: Sustaining a high level of energy throughout the day.

Challenge: Avoiding processed foods, dairy, and lunch meat. I am starting to realize just how much processed food &dairy my family eats.

John's Day 2

Food: Skipped breakfast and ate a banana when he got to work. A couple handfuls of peanuts. Sugar free pudding. 2 turkey sandwiches on wheat. An apple. Natural granola bar. Celery & carrots. Spaghetti with meat sauce (lean ground beef, whole grain pasta)and and salad.

Energy Levels: Ok.

Exercise: Weights (lower body). Cardio - 2.5 miles on elliptical.

Success: Making it through his 2nd day without coffee.

Challenge: Food choices and eating too much - especially at dinner. Also his low energy levels are an ongoing struggle (prior to AdvoCare).

The AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge: Day 1

Today was Day 1 of our AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge. John and I were both pleasantly surprised that the first day was an easy adjustment as far as the changes in our diet. The booklet that came with our products has been a helpful guide to show us when to take what products. It also contains general food guidelines. 

To the left you will see the AdvoCare products we used today. First thing in the morning we drank Spark, which replaced our coffee (yes, REPLACED our coffee!!). Then we drank our fiber drinks with breakfast. Both of us chose to pack an AdvoBar Raw in our lunches today. We took our Omegaplex with our dinner tonight and we will be taking our Herbal Cleanse before bed tonight. 

As we continue with the 24 Day Challenge I am going to do my best to post a short little description of our daily activities. Some of the products we take change depending on the day of the cleanse. Also, I will note a general description of our food, energy levels, exercise, water intake, successes, and challenges.

Lindsay Day 1

Food: Kashi Wheat Cereal, a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, AdvoBar Raw, taco salad with lean ground beef, low fat sour cream, and taco sauce (no cheese). Half a flour tortilla. 

Energy Level: Good - better than average. 

Exercise: Ran 3 miles

Water Intake: Unfortunately, I didn't count this very well today. I probably drank around 64-70 ounces of water not including the Spark and fiber drink. 

Success: I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to give up my morning coffee without much of a struggle. I was also psyched that I still had a good energy level even late in the afternoon. The Spark seems to really be helping my mental focus throughout the day. 

Challenge: My biggest challenge today was eating breakfast. I am not now, nor have I ever been, much of a breakfast eater. I felt rushed this morning trying to fit it in. I think for tomorrow I am going to try to drink my Spark while I am getting around in the morning and on the way to work and then eat my breakfast and drink my fiber drink at work closer to 9 am. 

John Day 1

Food: Kashi Wheat Cereal, a lot of fresh fruits and veggies, peanut butter sandwich on wheat bread (natural peanut butter), AdvoBar Raw, yogurt, tacos with flour torillas, lean ground beef, low fat sour cream, taco sauce, and light cheese. 

Energy Level: Normal. Energy is a struggle for John. He was actually surprised his energy levels didn't take a dip due to cutting out coffee, tea, and pop. 

Exercise: Weights (chest), Cardio 2.5 miles on elliptical

Water Intake: 100 - 120 ounces  or more. Johns generally drinks a lot of water. Today he likely drank more than usual due to cutting out coffee, tea, and pop.

Success: Cutting out coffee. And the 1/2 cup or more of sugar that goes with the coffee. 

Challenge: Drinking the fiber drink. John does not care for thick-textured beverages.

To learn more about the 24 Day Challenge, click here.

To purchase the 24 Day Challenge, click here.  

If anyone has any burning questions for us as we progress through our 24 Day Challenge please don't be shy to ask! 

The AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge

Tomorrow, April 1, 2013, John and I will start the AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge. My goal is to write a short post every day (or at least every couple days) as we progress through the challenge. The 24 Day Challenge consists of a 10 day "cleanse phase"and a 14 day "max phase". 

To learn more about the 24 Day Challenge, click here.

To purchase the 24 Day Challenge, Click here. 

To ask questions about the 24 Day Challenge, Click here to email me. 

This evening I prepared a lot of fruits and vegetables to grab a quick pre-portioned bag for a snack or to pack in our lunches throughout the week. During the cleanse we will be eating "clean" - meaning little to no processed food, dairy, sugar, coffee, alcohol, and soda pop. We will eat mostly fruits vegetables, proteins, and complex carbohydrates. 

Then, I created our AdvoCare Shelf (pretty sweet, huh?)

We both weighed ourselves and completed our measurements. We will weigh ourselves again at the end of the 10 day cleanse and again at the end of the challenge. We will redo our measurements at the end of the challenge as well. 

Lindsay's Before:

Can't seem to get the picture right side up!

Weight: 155.2

Arms: 12 in

Chest: 34 in

Waist: 35.5 in

Hips: 37 in

Thighs: 23.25 in

John's Before:

Weight: 257

Arms: 16 in

Chest: 42 in

Waist: 44 in

Hips: 46 in