First Week in the books!

     Today marks day seven of my 24 day challenge and so far I have been nothing but impressed!  I feel like a million bucks and even though I’m only one week in, I have been getting LOTS of compliments!  I weighed after day 3 and I had already lost 2lbs but I felt so much more confident in myself!  I think as women we are so focused on the number on the scale instead of the way something makes us feel.  Even if I wasn’t losing weight, the challenge would be worth it because it makes me feel good.  I am more relaxed, I sleep through the night, Spark not only gives me energy but, it also helps with my mood.  I am NOT a morning person but mornings in the Minor household have been very pleasant this week.  J

     The foods that I eat are very similar to what I would eat on the Slow Carb Diet (which I will continue to do even after the challenge) the only difference is I am able to eat fruit.  I dearly missed eating fruit!  The burn part of the Challenge will also be nice because I get to slowly incorporate whole grains into my diet so my first “refuel” day, I am having me some Subway! MMMMmmmmmMMM!

Advocare 24 Day Challenge: Day 1

Today is day one of my 24 Day Challenge from Advocare and even just one day into it, I feel 10 times better than usual!  Went to be late last night and Daniel slept awful.  Dan and I both got up with him once and then morning came way too soon.  After a quick shower, I mixed my fiber drink with the orange Spark and CHUGGED.  I kept telling myself that the gritty pieces were just pulp.   All in all, not too bad for fiber.  Before leaving the house I made a chocolate meal replacement shake in my Ninja and it was really good!  I decided to take a gallon jug to work with me since my goal every day is a gallon of water.  I have a cup for my water but, I’m not going to lie, when no one is around I drink straight from jug!  With all this water you can imagine that I may several trips to the bathroom.  Dan assures me that my bladder will get used to it.  I hope so.  When most people hear that the first part of a challenge is a cleanse, they automatically they are going to be going through the “Big D” for ten day. (Thanks Kyla for the reference! Ha ha!  In truth, I have had no issues.  This is a herbal cleanse and it is meant to be gentle. 

Lunch was pretty normal for me just minus the beans.  Had another spark about 2:30 and then a little snack of fruit and another dose of catalyst.  The plan is another good meal this evening and then another dose of Catalyst and then some Kettle Bell and Zumba. 

I can’t begin to explain how excited Dan and I are at the possibilities for our health and wellness.  I was doing great with my Slow Carb Eating and we will continue to do that in conjunction with our Advocare products and I can’t wait to see the difference in my weight and inches lost!

I am in love...

With the Kettlebell! Holy crap. This thing is amazing!

Not only does it give you a full body work out  but, you can do a LOT of different exercises with it.  I have been doing the standard swing: 3 reps of 25 with a 15lb kettlebell.  I also do several other exercises but, the standard swing is what REALLY gets your heart rate going and you get a nice sweat as well.  I only did the basic swing 3 times last week but, I am going to try doing it 5 days this week.
     My results last week werent great BUT, I'm not letting it discourage me.  Only lost .7lbs but, lost .25 inches in my waist and 1 inch in my lower gut.  I am incorporating more core friendly exercises in hopes to see more results there.
     Dan and I are also looking into trying out some supplements from Advocare.  My sis is doing the 24 day challenge and is pleased with it and having some gret success.  I'm going to make my final decision after she has completed her challenge and we have a chance to thoroughly discuss it.
     I have benn experimenting with some different recipes as well and thankfully my husband is not afraid to try new recipes.  I am dabbling in the ethnic catagory(mainly indian; surprise surprise!) and we have really enjoyed it.  In the book "The 4 Hour Body", Tim Ferris recommends eating the same few meals over and over again but, I know we would get seriously bored so, I try to be creative!

Back on the Wagon

The title says it all.  I didnt fall off the "wagon"...  I jumped.  For the last month(excluding this las week, I have been eating what ever I wanted, whenever I wanted, and as much as I wanted.  Not a good thing.  At all.  I was down 30 lbs before I took a break from the Slow Carb Diet or better known as the 4 hour Body but, I knew the weight was creeping back on when I busted a zipper on my pants at work!  In my defense, I have had these slacks for a LONG time and the zipper was prone to getting stuck but, they busted none the less and it was a wake up call! 
     So, last Sunday, I set myself back to eating healthy and drinking LOTS of water.  I didnt weigh myself because I couldnt see the damage I had done in those last weeks!  Feeling better thourgh out the day and sleeping great is the best way to know your body is adapting to the change.  I used to wake up ALL the time and now, I dont wake up at all.  I did weigh myself this morning and did my measurements since today is my official cheat day.  Weight was only 4.6lbs more than the last time I weighed myself SO, I was ok with that and breathed a sigh of relief.
    I have been seriously researching using Advocare supplements to assist in the weight loss.  Shout out to my little sis doing her 24 Day Challenge!  I used Advocare years ago when i was in high school and lost a boat load of weight.  I know that the systems have change somewhat but, I think I could definetely benefit from trying it out and Dan has shown some interest as well.  I'll keep yall up to date with that. 
     I find my biggest challenege is working out!  Finding the time and energy is difficult.  Morning are a no go because I'm up at 4:30 to start the day and once I get home at 5 or 5:30, I'm exhausted!  I know its an excuse and I have to get over it.  Even if it is just the 20 minute Zumba "Rush" DVD.  I know I will see an increase in my weight loss if I just get to moving.  I have to make that my experiment!

Yes, I know...

I know, I know....  Its been almost a week since I have posted anything.  We have been insanely busy around here with a whole bunch of things!  First thing is first, lets talk about this week's weight loss so far.  Now, tomorrow is the official cheat day so, I still have another day until the OFFICIAL weigh in but, I have lost 2.5 lbs so far this week for a total of 7.5 since October 24.  Another confession:  I didn't work out this week like I had wanted to.  No excuses.  It WILL be done this week and my goal again for this week is 7lbs. 
     I did have a couple days where I didn't lose any weight and I was discouraged but, I powered through it and came out on top.  I have found that if I go online to different websites that have info on the 4 Hour Body, it definitely encourages me.  There is also a website that is dedicated to people on the 4 Hour Body plan and there is a section for women  4hourpeople.com.  Check it out if you have any questions.  It has helped me a lot!

If you are a dude I will only tell you this:  Dan has lost 13.5 lbs since October 24.  It works great for men.  Jerks.

Well, Dan is home and I need to finish up lunch so he can eat before he hits the road.  It's drill week and he has a long drive to Lake Worth.

First Cheat Day~ Weeeeeeeeee!

Ah, cheat day!  I was SO ready for you! I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into something tasty and full of carbs/sugar that had been off limits for the last 5 days.  I do have to say we actually didn't go all fat girl crazy on our cheat day.  We had sausage biscuits and fruit and yogurt parfaits for breakfast and, the best part: a big, fat Dr. Pepper!  After getting our order, I quickly ripped the paper of the straw, popped the straw in the lid and took a big ol' swig...... whoa..whoa..  This isn't what I had been waiting to indulge in!  This wasn't the carbonated goodness that God had bestowed to us directly from his own cup!  This tasted like....not Dr.Pepper.  Well, it was Dr Pepper but, not MY Dr. Pepper.  It just didn't taste right.  Evan Dan agreed, the Dr. Pepper tasted different to him since he last had one.  I guess it not tasting as good as I remembered isn't a such a bad thing.  Lunch consisted of chicken fajita nachos from Rosa's. I pointed out to Dan as we were waiting to order that we could always have the chicken fajita salad when it wasn't our cheat day.  Just had to cut out the cheese and sour cream.  I have, in fact, had this salad(it was by mistake when our order was wrong) and it was very good.  There is just something about the chicken fajita meat from that place!  I didn't eat much at the football game mainly because Dan ate all of what we should have been sharing.  He is such a FAT girl!  I told him I need my own fridge and pantry because he eats everything!  *sigh*  After leaving the game, we headed home to drop off my brother and Angela and to let Duchess out to do her business and then we headed to Lorenzo to pick up our Little Love.  We then both agreed that on the way back, we needed to stop at Sonic for a cheese burger before our cheat day was over.  And that is just what we did and it was SO good.  NOM NOM NOM

Now, the writer of The 4 Hour Body does tell you will have some weight gain after cheat day that could be up to 5lbs.  Not to worry!  Your body needs this spike in calories and since it is not used to breaking down dairy, sugar, carbs, etc that you have not been eating, it will take it a little longer to digest your food.  Just jump back on the Slow Carb train the day after your cheat day and keep on going!  Dan and I both did see a 3 pound gain today but,m we will both be working out today and hopefully, that 3lbs plus some lost will be reflected on the scale in the morning.

Speaking of scales, I personally like to weigh myself every morning.  That was I can monitor my proogress.  If I dont lose or if I gain, I know I need to tweek something that day to see results.  It also is VERY encouraging to see the number grow smaller every day.  Some people do prefer to weigh themselves on a weekly basis and there is nothing wrong with that.  It is really personal prference.

Well,  the house is clean, Daniel is napping and Dan ran up to campus to get me some papers (I am a couponer also in my spare time!) and I think I am going to relax and enjoy the quiet with Duchess!
~Until tomorrow!

First Week results

Days four and five were very uneventful: eggs, beans, meat, eggs, beans, meat, veggies, beans, meat, veggies...  You get the picture.  The thing that keeps us going is our cheat day which is today(Saturday) but, I'll get to that shortly.  So, Dan and I weighed in today for our official weight in for 5 days.  From here on out, it will be every six days but, we started Monday and we wanted to today to be our cheat day.  Since Monday, Dan has lost 10.5lbs!  His goal is to be 220lbs before Thanksgiving and I'm pretty sure he will make it.  Now, my weight loss wasn't as much but, it was consistent...*drum roll please* I have lost 5lbs since Monday!  I told Dan just imagine how much more I could have lost if I was working out!  He worked out twice this week with his P90X but, he walks on campus everyday and that really adds up.

Now that I have a baseline on my weight loss, my next phase will be adding the workout the our new way of life.  This week I will work out every day doing Zumba 40 minutes 3 days and then doing the 20 minute workout the other 2 days.  Then, week after that, I will add the kettle bell.  If I was a betting woman, I would think I would be able to lose at least 7 lbs this coming week as long as I don't plateau.

Cheat day.  The day that we have been waiting for since Monday.  I'm not going to lie, beans and eggs get ridiculously old but, I weight myself everyday so I can see my progress and that motivates me to keep on going!  This morning we have didn't do too bad for breakfast but, lunch, will be epic....  ROSA'S!  I cant explain how excited we are.  Kinda funny and sad at the sames time!  We will round out our splurge day at the Texas Tech game with a scrump-tastic hot dog!  I have never really been a fan of hot dogs but, since having Daniel, I like them.  My dad would be proud!

Time to get dressed and go to the grocery store and then take my Little Honey to my in-laws in Lorenzo since they are babysitting while we go to the game.  WRECK EM TECH!!!!!!
~Until next time!