Advocare 10 Day Cleanse!

So, on Monday, March 25, my husband Tim and I started the Advocare 10 Day Cleanse.  I had never done a cleanse before and wasn't quite sure what to expect. 

Tim and I started eating "cleanish" in January.  We started with the book, This Is Why You're Fat, and started adapting her principles.  We started feeling better, sleeping better, and overall were in good spirits.  Sure, it was hard to plan meals, prepare fresh vegetables and fruits all the time, eat eggs like crazy people, etc., but it was a change that we needed.

Last June we went on a cruise and I was at my all time lowest weight... around 143.  I felt really good about myself.  Tim had slowly put on 'pre-marriage' weight, but wasn't weighing himself regularly.  Between June 2012 and January 2013 I was weighing in at 157.  Gosh, that happened so fast.  It was scale avoidance... enjoying the rest of my summer, getting married, my grandmother's passing, and all the holidays in between. 

When January rolled around I was baffled by that 157 on the scale.  I had no idea who put it there or where it came from (but, my thighs and stomach may tell a different story...).

 The pounds came off pretty rapidly with the clean eating, but then I began to creep back up. 

I started running January 4th with no previous training or running motivation.  It is my new love.  I have done a 10k and a 5k within the past month.  I have also been regularly working out.  I would say on a great week, I'm running 2x a week and doing weight training 3 days a week. 

 

(I won't mention the rolling of the ankle and the impending MRI that needs to take place due to non-healing...). 

I've had to let go of my scale.  I'm a believer that you can't lower your weight AND work out AND be satisfied.  It is one or the other.  So, in order to believe that I am building muscle and losing fat, I had to put away my scale.  It is your worst enemy, truly.  However, I will be honest and say we bring out the scale every two weeks to watch maintenance, keep ourselves in check, etc.

Well, Megan and Mama Brandi Laughlin (who are amazing women, btw!) did the 10 Day first and had a HUGE following of folks.  Tim and I (okay, well, I decided for us) decided that we could do it and would start on the 25th of March!  (Did I remember my niece's birthday or Easter happening during these 10 days.... of course not!) So, we ordered from Megan and began the journey!

Shopping trips included LOTS of vegetables, chicken, ground turkey, turkey sausage, eggs, and fruits.  A LOT.  But not Lunchables, those are for the small human that lives with us.

Monday - March 25 was the day!  It starts with a Fiber Drink for three days, along with cleansing vitamins at night.  A probiotic is slowly added in and the Fiber Drink comes back for the last three days.  I'm so glad Megan chose Peaches and Cream for our Fiber Drink, I hear it is better than the citrus.  Is it something I'd love to drink everyday?  No.  Yet, I didn't gag on it either.  The secret is, just stir or shake until mixed... over shaking or stirring causes that crap to get THICK!  GAG!

The truth of the 10 days.  They were extremely do-able.  Did I groan and moan? Yes.  Did I want chocolate?  Every day.  Did I want my coffee?  Absolutely.  If you do not currently eat clean, then this will be a giant awakening for you!  Because of our clean eating, I didn't expect miracles, just a jump start and to get over that 150 pound scale straddle I'd been playing with since February. 

So, we cooked, I worked out, we groaned and moaned...

I couldn't have done the Cleanse without Tim.  He was a rock solid trooper and wouldn't let me cheat even if I tried!  During the 10 days we had my niece's Birthday Party at Chuck E Cheese where Tim and I ate salad with our own no sugar, no fat, no anything salad dressing..  This is how we currently feel about salads..

We also had to celebrate Easter.  However, in hindsight, this was a GREAT time to have the cleanse.  We didn't eat a single piece of candy NOR did we indulge on anything we shouldn't have while eating at a BUFFET with our family for Easter lunch.  But, this little human, she gets whatever she wants. :)

Today, April 4th, was FREEDOM DAY!!!  I was going to have a donut for breakfast, enjoy my COFFEE, eat Chick Fil A for lunch, have lasagna and wine for dinner, and eat CAKE for dessert!!  But, the funny thing is... once I stepped on that scale this morning and saw this..

I did a 5am workout, drank my coffee with my sugar free creamer, packed my lunch with fruits and vegetables, planned my lasagna with turkey sausage and low-fat cheese and trucked on with my day.  It was a great motivator!!!  I jumped that 150 hurdle, but not QUITE enough to where I am certain it is going to stick.  By golly, I'm going to make it!!!

Tim is ROCKING his new weight loss and is looking super AMAZING.  I am so proud of him!!  He is not working out, yet, but just the overall diet is changing him drastically!  He is feeling better, is no longer having to take antacids, and he is wearing jeans he hasn't worn since we met! ;)

So, all in all... my recap of this 10 Day Cleanse was a positive experience.  It got us back to cutting out unnecessary snacking and sugars.  It made us feel pretty good and as if we accomplished a great hurdle.  However, this cleanse is not a fast-diet.  It is not to be used to be a weight loss and keep off.  It is a Cleanse and therefore to cleanse your system.  I feel that since Tim and I were already eating clean-ish, we may not have benefited as much as someone who has a different current eating lifestyle.

If you're interested in learning more or want to take this challenge, contact Megan and she will hook you up!!

Now, if you don't mind...  I have a small slice of cake to eat.  (The rest will be taken to work tomorrow... PROMISE!)