Wednesday, May 8, 2013

My Journey Back to Light

Life is full of limitless opportunities and everyone gets to choose their own path. We have the amazing ability to design our own lives by the thoughts we choose to think, our attitudes, our beliefs, and ultimately our actions. It's easy to get caught up in our day to day lives, our jobs, our kids, paying bills, making dinner, laundry, homework, etc. and forget the awesome power we possess.

It's like someone is slowly turning the lights out on our dreams. Our eyes gradually adjust to the darkness and that becomes our new normal. We don't even realize we have been in the dark all that time until one day someone or something "flips the switch" and gives us a glimpse of the light. It's scary, shocking, and maybe even a little painful for our eyes to take in all that bright light. Often, our first instinct is to turn the light back off as quickly as possible.

But now that we've seen the light, the darkness becomes darker than ever before. The darkness in no longer a comfortable place for us because we realize there is another way. We realize there is so much we are missing out on because we couldn't see clearly while we were sitting in the dark. We want desperately to get back to the light.

But do we really?

Nothing is clear anymore. We begin to question how things are in our life. We can either step out of our comfort zone and start making different choices and moving towards the light or we can attempt to run backwards, back into the darkness, and pretend that everything is still the same. Like it was before we had a glimpse of the light, before we knew our life is of our making.

However it is impossible to go back to how it was before we knew. Because now we know. We know there is more to life than what we have been living. We know that we can make different choices and get different results. We know that the power to change our life is within us and that it has been all along. 

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.

Change occurs from the inside out.

All of these statements are true.

I know from experience.

Over the last year and a half I have been on a journey from sickness to health, from fat to thin, from darkness to light.



While my transformation started out as physical, it has become so much more than that for me. It has become about finding my inner strength. It has become about seeing myself as more than I am right now. It has become about endless opportunities for my personal growth and development. It has become about stepping outside of my comfort zone and into the light.

This is just the beginning of my journey... My journey to transform my life from something mediocre into something extraordinary.

My hope, as I continue on this path, venturing outside of my comfort zone, is to inspire, encourage, and empower others to do the same. It is my hope that I will meet others along the way who have chosen to take that first step towards realizing their dreams. Others who are ready to take that first, courageous step out of the darkness and into the light. My hope is to meet you...

What's YOUR dream?

Sunday, April 28, 2013

The AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge: Results!


We are both extremely pleased with our results! We wore the same clothes in the before and after pictures too for consistency. Loving our AdvoCare products! 


Lindsay's Before                                               Lindsay's After

Arms: 12 in                                                          Arm: 10 in             (-2 inches)
Chest: 34 in                                                         Chest: 33.5            (-.5 inch)
Waist: 35.5 in                                                      Waist: 32               (-3.5 inches)
Hips: 37 in                                                           Hips: 36.5              (-.5 inch)
Thighs: 23.25 in                                                   Thighs: 20.25         (-3 inches)       Total = MINUS 9.5!!! 




That's a 9 lbs weight loss! At one point it was just shy of 10 lbs, but that is the number on the scale today so we'll go with it... I am still VERY happy with the results! :)






John's Before                                                            John's After

Arms: 16 in                                                                  Arms: 15          (-1 inch)
Chest: 42 in                                                                 Chest: 45.5       (+3.5 inches!! workout's paying off!)
Waist: 44 in                                                                 Waist: 41.5       (-2.5 inches)
Hips: 46 in                                                                   Hips: 45.5         (-.5 inch)  Total = MINUS 4 inches!





That's a 10 lb loss!

 





















Tuesday, April 9, 2013

24 Day Challenge: Days 8 & 9


We are wrapping up the 10 Day Cleanse, which is the first part of the 24 Day Challenge. It is amazing what a change we feel in 10 shorts days. Well, 9 because tomorrow is the 10th day - results day! We feel great, we've lost weight, we've increased our energy, and we have rid our body of a bunch of built up toxins and are ready to move onto the max phase of the cleanse!

Here's are food, energy, exercise, etc. for the last couple of days. 


Lindsay's Day 8

Food: Kashi Cereal. Blueberries. Strawberries. Celery. Carrots. Banana bread (made from almond flour). Nature's Valley Granola bar. Turkey sandwich (on wheat). Spaghetti with meatsauce (lean groundbeef). Salad.

Energy: Excellent

Exercise: Rest Day

John's Day 8

Food: Oatmeal. Handful peanuts (unsalted). Orange. Banana. Strawberries. Chicken noodle casserole (egg noodles). Lowfat yogurt. Carrots. Nature Valley Granola bar. Spaghetti with meat sauce (whole grain past & lean ground beef). Salad.

Exercise: 2.5 miles on elliptical. Weights (shoulders)

Energy: Good

Combining the success and challenge because we are both experiencing the same successes and challenges as we progress through our 24 days.

Success: Improving energy levels.

Challenge: Eating right. Getting enough fruits and vegetables. 

Lindsay's Day 9

Food: Kashi Cereal. Egg muffin (egg,veggies, ground turkey). Pineapple. Blueberries. Celery. Carrots. Salad. Nature Valley granola bar. Banana. Jambalaya (Zaterans - I know... not so clean) Salad. Pears.

Energy Level: Awesome. Awesome. And did I mention, awesome?!

Exercise: Ran 5.4 miles.

Success: Just felt great overall today. I think the 80 degrees day helped a smidge ;)

Challenge: n/a

John's Day 9

Food: Raisin Bran. Oatmeal. Carrots. Celery. Apple. Orange. Turkey sandwich on wheat. Low fat cottage cheese. Low fat yogurt. Nature valley granola bar. Jambalaya. Salad.

Exercise: Ran 2.5 on elliptical. Weights (arms).

Energy Level: Good. Mr. John is starting to get a wee bit impressed by the fact that his energy levels are improving despite giving up coffee, pop, monster, and 5 hour energy...

Success: Just a good day.

Challenge: N/A