Day 20
So, I'm on Day 20 of the Advocare 24 Day Challenge and I'm shocked at how a)easy and b)life-changing it's been for me.
I chose to do the program because I was tired of thinking about my weight all.the.time. I hated the way I looked and felt and knew I needed something to kickstart me into a healthier pattern. This has been just the thing I needed.
1. So far I've lost 12 pounds, which is great. I think my body looks SO different. I could have lost more if I had been working out more often, but it's just not realistic with my daily schedule right now. And, for me, this is a long-term commitment so slow and steady is just fine. I really don't want to go gangbusters, not be able to keep it up, and then slide back into my old ways. The way I'm eating and working out feels very sustainable to me.
2. More than the weight loss (which is a HUGE positive psychological impact) is the energy that I have. Rather than feeling glued to the couch, I don't mind popping up to get something from upstairs, or dancing with Jordan when she asks me to.
3. It also seems like my mood swings have stabilized and I just feel more positive about things, in general. Chris and I are getting along more, which makes me SO happy.
4. The challenge has really taught me to look at food as an energy source rather than a way to fill myself up (physically or emotionally). There's a LOT to cut out on this challenge (dairy, wheat, sugar, coffee, etc.) and as much as I loved all of those things before, I have had ZERO cravings. It's been incredible.
The challenge has a lot of supplements/vitamins that go along with the eating plan. It's hard for me to know whether they have had the most impact or if it's been the timing/substance of the meals. I'd like to think that keeping up the eating plan will continue to have the same effects and I won't miss the supplements. I guess we'll see if that's true. One thing I know I'll take away from this is that it's necessary for me to eat every 2-3 hours. know that's the "right" way to eat, and yet, I never did it before. Eating consistently really does make a difference! It's been obvious to me that keeping my blood sugar even and my belly full is a really wise choice and makes me feel better. There is also very little carbs on the eating plan. I have not missed them at ALL, which is incredibly surprising to me. After the challenge, I plan on continuing that pattern.
I have at least 20 more pounds to lose, which seems do-able to me. I'm using MyFitnessPal to count calories and track exercise, which has been really helpful. I'm really hoping that this is the beginning of a huge life change where I feel confident, powerful, and happy. It'd be great to look back on January 2013 and think of it as the turning point of my adult life. I guess time will tell. :)
I chose to do the program because I was tired of thinking about my weight all.the.time. I hated the way I looked and felt and knew I needed something to kickstart me into a healthier pattern. This has been just the thing I needed.
1. So far I've lost 12 pounds, which is great. I think my body looks SO different. I could have lost more if I had been working out more often, but it's just not realistic with my daily schedule right now. And, for me, this is a long-term commitment so slow and steady is just fine. I really don't want to go gangbusters, not be able to keep it up, and then slide back into my old ways. The way I'm eating and working out feels very sustainable to me.
2. More than the weight loss (which is a HUGE positive psychological impact) is the energy that I have. Rather than feeling glued to the couch, I don't mind popping up to get something from upstairs, or dancing with Jordan when she asks me to.
3. It also seems like my mood swings have stabilized and I just feel more positive about things, in general. Chris and I are getting along more, which makes me SO happy.
4. The challenge has really taught me to look at food as an energy source rather than a way to fill myself up (physically or emotionally). There's a LOT to cut out on this challenge (dairy, wheat, sugar, coffee, etc.) and as much as I loved all of those things before, I have had ZERO cravings. It's been incredible.
The challenge has a lot of supplements/vitamins that go along with the eating plan. It's hard for me to know whether they have had the most impact or if it's been the timing/substance of the meals. I'd like to think that keeping up the eating plan will continue to have the same effects and I won't miss the supplements. I guess we'll see if that's true. One thing I know I'll take away from this is that it's necessary for me to eat every 2-3 hours. know that's the "right" way to eat, and yet, I never did it before. Eating consistently really does make a difference! It's been obvious to me that keeping my blood sugar even and my belly full is a really wise choice and makes me feel better. There is also very little carbs on the eating plan. I have not missed them at ALL, which is incredibly surprising to me. After the challenge, I plan on continuing that pattern.
I have at least 20 more pounds to lose, which seems do-able to me. I'm using MyFitnessPal to count calories and track exercise, which has been really helpful. I'm really hoping that this is the beginning of a huge life change where I feel confident, powerful, and happy. It'd be great to look back on January 2013 and think of it as the turning point of my adult life. I guess time will tell. :)