Here's what I told myself last year this time - before I really knew anything about what I was doing with the challenge - "I can do ANYTHING for 24 days!" And once I started the challenge - I became addicted - I loved it - and I was sad when it was over because I felt so great and I loved the routine and guidance the program gave me. So I continued with Advocare products - and here I am!
So it's true - 24 days is over so quickly and the most important thing is to FULLY COMMIT to this challenge. The virtual coach on Advocare and the Daily Guide will be so helpful - you know exactly WHAT to eat WHEN. It's a no-brainer and that's why I loved this program. Eat only what you are supposed to, eliminate what is a no-no, exercise if you can - and YOU WILL SEE THE RESULTS!!!! Don't only do this program 80% of the time - commit yourself 100% to do the program for all of the 24 days.
So right about now I'd like you to think about your meal plans for next week. Go to the grocery store this weekend and stock up. And do the same thing each weekend. PLAN AHEAD. Think about what you have coming up that week. Busy day at work with lots of activities in the evening? Then make some dinners in the slow cooker, make something ahead and freeze, use those Meal Replacement shakes for breakfast/lunch, and pre-package those snacks so you grab and go in the morning. I put my berries in little containers, cut up broccoli/cauliflower/snap peas/carrots in to-go cups, etc.
Remember you will be waking up a little earlier to do Spark 30 minutes before your Fiber Drink/breakfast or meal replacement shake
Remember to try to squeeze in a little exercise. That CATALYST that you purchased - it works even more WONDERS if you are exercising. I mean it - I even got muscles I hadn't seen since high school!
If you weren't a water drinker before - be one NOW. Body weight in pounds divided by 2 = ounces of water you should be consuming. Get a fun water cup - I like the Camelbaks I found at Target. I even put a little Vitamin Water drops in to get a little flavor.
Let SPARK take over your coffee obsession. I know it's going to be hard to give up that cup of coffee. But give it 3 days and you will be FINE. Spark is so good for you and will give you that same energy that you crave in the morning and late afternoon. Heck - I had 3 a day!!!! Add an extra if needed (I say it's okay)
TAKE YOUR MEASUREMENTS!!!! And your picture. I don't care how silly it seems - but put on a sports bra/tank top and exercise pants - stand in front of that mirror - and take a selfie!!! Same spot, same outfit on Day #11 and Day #25. You will be amazed at how different you look throughout the process. Record the measurement on your Advocare App.
YOU CAN get everything at a regular grocery store! I get that you don't have time to go to Whole Foods, then Trader Joes, then get the rest of the family food at another one..... Just take some time to get to know those isles that you have never been to before - like the health food/gluten food section. Everything you need is right in your home-town g-store ;) The pictures I posted earlier in the blog were just suggestions/ideas. And I lot of that stuff I found at Target!!!!!
WHEN DO WE START? Depending on when your package was ordered - most will start on Monday the 5th - but it's okay if you don't have your package by Monday. Wednesday the 7th is the National Challenge and everyone is guaranteed delivery by then. I will help you either way!
CLEANSE PHASE HERE WE COME!!!!!
DAYS 1-3:
1) Get up and Spark - seriously use that blender bottle. Put a little warm water at first to help melt the powder - then add cold water. Shake and drink!!
2) 30 minutes later - FIBER DRINK (it's in your herbal cleanse pack)(again blender bottle). AND....CHUG!!! Seriously chug it. Don't take time to taste (it's not that bad, just gritty). I actually kinda like it. Add 8 more oz of water and drink. This won't make you run to the bathroom at all. But it will sustain you throughout the morning and you won't be hungry!
THEN BREAKFAST or MEAL REPLACEMENT SHAKE. Decide what you want to do. Not a lot of time in the mornings before you rush out? Then don't stress about making some healthy breakfast. Do the meal replacement shake! Again - blender bottle and go! (make sure you are ONLY mixing with water)
FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO MAKE BREAKFAST: Avoid even the good carbs for the first 10 days. And yes, that means the oatmeal, too. I would do make-ahead egg muffins (cut up vegetables, pour in egg liquid or 3 eggs and a bowl of fruit. Here is a good article on breakfast during the cleanse. http://lifeisarun.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/advocare-breakfast/
3) Mid-morning snack! Score! I like a hard boiled egg (don't even try to make yourself if you aren't good at it. After a dozen bad attempts - I just buy in a package.) and a snack pack of raw almonds. Or a rice cake and natural peanut butter (get the no-stir kind!!!!!). Or fruit and some raw almonds....
TAKE THAT CATALYST!!!!
By the way - CATALYST - if you are going to be working out in the mornings and afternoons- let me know and I have a different schedule for that Catalyst for you.....
4) Lunchtime!!! Combine a protein, a veggie, and a complex carb.....sooo...that means try to put together a creative salad - kale/spinach/dark leafy greens, some grilled chicken (I get the packaged but fresh kind in the deli that you just heat), add some garbonzo or black beans, some veggies, and a balsalmic vinegar dressing. But you can still do a meal replacement shake here
Other ideas....
http://lifeisarun.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/advocare-ten-day-cleanse-lunch/
5) 30 minutes before that afternoon snack - ANOTHER SPARK!!!! And you know you need it!
6) Afternoon snack - again a handful of nuts and fruit, boiled egg, 1 cup whole grain popcorn and apple slices, rice cake and natural PB
7) Dinner - Try to make this homemade and one that the whole family will like. On my blog, Pinterest page, and our own group FB page, I tried to leave a bunch of Advocare friendly recipes. Get creative, have fun - clean eating is delicious!!!!! Advocare has a cookbook and this is their Tumblr page http://webuildchampions.tumblr.com/tagged/recipe
8)Bedtime snack + herbal cleanse caplets + Catalyst (I was always in the mood for a little bit of salt this time of day - so I did 1 cup of the Chicka Boom Popcorn - the yellow bag - plus 1 apple. If you don't feel like you need a snack - then by all means skip it!!!!
So day 4 starts a slightly different schedule so I will post later this week.
ASK ME QUESTIONS NOW!!! Whatever you are wondering is okay, not okay, - what will work with your own schedule, etc. Please ask! Use our Facebook page or private message me!
I can't wait to do this with you - Andrea
