it's been six days since the challenge ended

 I feel really good and I am getting stronger and leaner every day. Thanks to the max E from advocare my appetite is being controlled nicely!! I am starting the Max 3's tomorrow, a little less on energy and appetite control, just wanna try it and see how it works. I'm planning on posting more pics soon. Just wanted to let yall know.. I'm not done!!!  I am working out daily and bike riding every night with my husband up some pretty knarly trails, and I have a lot of energy and drive to see this through!
LOVE!!!
ttyl

Day 24- I've lost so much, and gained so much more

So, 24 Days ago, I was an out of shape, wheezing, shortwaisted Grandmother with high blood sugar and missing clavicles!! look at me now!! I still have a ways to go, but I am loving the new me!!
My blood sugar is way more consistent, often 125 or lower! (no more "prediabetes" readings, but time will tell!)
I've Lost 11 pounds! (148-11=137!!)
I am now in a size 10 instead of 14! (pants) and wearing MEDIUM to SMALL depending on the cut of the shirt
My waist is 31 (down 4.5 inches)
My hips are 39 (4  inches)

My arms and legs are more toned, and I think I at least LOOK taller!! the distance btw my chest and waist seems longer and more toned, at least to me.
In conclusion...this is NOT the end!
As I said, I've loved what's happening to my body so much I am now a distributor for ADVOCARE. The products work and I worked too, and together with sensible changes in my life which were really easy, surprisingly enough, I ACTUALLY did what I set out to do. I know it sounds cliche' but if I can do this in 24 days, IMAGINE what you could do, too!
I will be keeping the blog up, and probably posting weekly until I reach my goal weight, then who knows? Thank you so much for supporting me on this journey. It means the world to me!!
LOVE!!!
see ya soon! (but you'll have to catch me, first...)

Before (May 22) After(June 14)

Day 23= I'm so excited! I have clavicles!!

Today we took the "after" pics. you can sorta see my clavicles in the pic (more in person for some reason, must be lighting?) But they are there. That is a huge thing for me, since I haven't seen them in a while. I almost forgot I had them. Again, I am not going for super model thin here, but eventually, I wanna see at least a few of my bones, here and there.
I went with my hubby on a 3.5 mile bike ride tonight, and it was so much fun.Why did I ever stop doing the physical stuff? I did have a car accident,where I hurt my back 2 years ago, I have some neck issues and my asthma but I never tried to work around that, except with yoga, but I didn't do the "hardcore" exercise that toned much at all, and by not working out and building up my strength, I missed out on so much fun. But now it's part of every day and I'm so happy that it is. Tomorrow is gonna be great, but so are  the days after that, because I'm really getting somewhere, and I like where I'm going!
LOVE!!
See you tomorrow for the 'big reveal' lol

day 22- OMG, 2 more days!!

 I have never sweated (I mean perspired) like I've been doing since I started this. I never worked up a sweat unless I was outside and it was really warm, but here I am working out in my 75 degree air conditioned house and feeling great because I'm working really hard and I was really working up a sweat!! I feel like such a tough broad! I was even growling at one point today, and I had to stop doing my leg lifts because I started laughing. Maybe I'm not that tough after all, huh? lol
Today was lots of fun. I got to babysit my grandson and he kept me running all day long, and we danced together and played bongo drums. I am lucky to be a young granny, and that I just got new tennis balls on my walker! (that last part was a joke)
What was also nice is that my daughter noticed that I'm looking better!! I hadn't seen her in a couple weeks and she said "wow mom! you do look thinner" My husband says he noticed it in my face too. I can't really tell, so you will have to let me know when you see my pictures on wednesday!!  I am so pleased that I am really seeing results, and I am able to just carry on without feeling like I'm on  diet. I'm actually on a "lifestyle change" so is  that a "live it?" My blood sugar was 125 today, which still is lowish and good. Still no dairy for me and I ate gluten free waffles for breakfast... not a real fan of those though.
LOVE !!!
see you tomorrow!!!

Day 21-in the groove

Things are humming along nicely!! I went for a lovely morning bike ride and came back to find a meditation dvd in my mailbox from netflix, so I popped that in and LOVED it. It had a 20 minute yoga series (vinyasa) at the beginning and a guided meditation, and wow, it was really relaxing and actually quite energizing.  Yoga is so uplifting to me..  afterwards, I pretty much cleaned everything in the house while listening to funk on pandora and dancing around with my swiffer.  I had been really focused on my fitness and forgot to do laundry for the last few days. I might have stinky clothes, but they fit better now! lol

I find that I am really looking forward to working out now and that I'm starting to really see results. I am not to my goal weight yet, but I am looking better and feeling more flexible, and that's a good thing!! I have noticed that even if I get a little sore from working out, if I rest a day, I'm usually fine. I read an article about the branch-chain amino acids (like catalyst by advocare) and wondered what exactly they are supposed to do, and one of the perks is that they help you recover faster, so I'm sure that's why I am able to get up and move the next day under my own power. I am really trying to emphasize quality over quantity, too. I'd rather do 3 crunches correctly  than ten incorrectly.  It's funny, when the movement is correct, it just clicks, there's a different feeling than just trying to keep up with  the movements.  Tomorrow is day 22.. wooohoo!!
LOVE!!
See you tomorrow!

Day 20- a typical day?

My daily life has changed so much since I finally got to that place in my life that lead me to take this journey. I was writing the title of this post thinking, wow, it's day 20? already? It also occurred to me that I don't count the days like I used to. It's just another day, which means I've reached a point where this IS how things are,not "I'm trying to stick with this". I'm actually making new HABITS and I LIKE it, it's not something I dread, and I feel really healthy every day. Oh, sure I have to plan what I am going to eat for the day, and I have to remember to take the MNS pills a half an hour before I eat, so there's a bit of preparation involved, but it's not something that is too difficult. I  have forgotten a few times, but now, it's so much a part of the day, I rarely think about it. I just do "this" now instead of winging it! Something else that I love is that I LOVE to exercise! I have NO problem fitting it into my day and I LOVE how it makes me feel. How strange to feel that way. I have said before that I love yoga, but cardio? the very word used to send me running (ok, well walking briskly) to my inhaler. Now, if I DON'T work out, it feels wrong! I am shaking my head in amazement as I type this.

Some of the biggest challenges have been trying to make food my family will eat that's also good for me. I live with 2 very skinny guys, My husband and my youngest son. So the issues that I have are very different from theirs. While they are bulking-up, I am trying to slim down, and somehow, we have to meet in the middle. Luckily, I'm a pretty good cook, and they are both very supportive. I just eat a little less at the meal than they do and we've been sticking to basic foods. I have also brought more fruit into the house and more salad with romaine and tons of veggies. So we are all getting what we need. The boys are gonna start the advocare muscle builder shakes and I'm excited to see how well that works!
So a typical day at my house is changing for the better. We now do more activity together as a family, eat higher amounts of fiber and veggies and fruits and are making healthier choices. I have 4 days left on the challenge, and I know the habits I'm forming aren't going to end when it does.
LOVE!!!
see you tomorrow!!!