And the Results from the 2 Day Fast Start

5 pounds lost for me and 6 pounds for my friend!

We followed the rules pretty closely.  Both of us had to add a little "something" to fight off some dizzy spells, but overall I think it was a good exercise for a couple of reasons.
1- It reminded me how much I am overeating calorie wise. My body doesn't need everything I think it does.  I just really like eating.
2- It's so easy, especially as a mom I think, to just grab a couple pieces of cereal, eat the leftover grilled cheese crust, especially when you feel like "seriously, I haven't eaten all day!".  But, it's dangerous.

I'm sure there are some more.  Maybe you've done something like this before and if you did, what were your take aways?  

I won't be doing it anytime soon again.  My goal now is only to keep off what I lost in those two days through Friday.

I am using SparkPeople to track calories/meals, fitness and weight for progress.

Here's hoping for a great weigh in on Saturday!!!

Last Day

So, since my post last night, it was sort of a mixed bag.  Last night, I got up with my littlest and was dizzy with a bad headache, so I had to eat something.  I had half of a protein bar (about 110 calories).  Worked well.  

Weight: down 2.8 pounds
Strawberry tea w 1 tsp honey
9:30: shake with 3 cubes coffee & 8oz water
12pm  Weight- no change
1pm- Strawberry Tea, no honey
1:45- shake- chocolate, 8oz water, ice
3:45- 1/2 protein bar (110 calories- was taking kids to the park and didn't want to risk a blood sugar crash)
4- walked 1.5 mile
6- really wanted tacos & peeps
8:35- last shake!!!
8:35- weight- no change
Did a quick 8 min ab tape.

So, I'll leave my "glad I did it" etc till tomorrow when I see the final results. 

For now, I'm planning what to eat tomorrow and making lists for snacks and dinner for the week!

Getting ready to MOVE...

was the motivation for finding this solution and giving it a try.  

When we moved last time, it worked well for me to have a list of meals that I knew were in a good calorie range for me and where my family liked to eat.  It made it easier to make good choices.

Well, that move was a distance of about  500 miles.  This one will be 2100.  So, I'm going to need more options!  Plus, with these shakes, they give you recipes to keep it from getting dull.

I've taken those recipes and made a file that is easy to print and can keep with me for different options with both the Greenberry and the Chocolate shakes.  It's arranged by calories.  One note I made was the difference, in calories, between skim and whole milk. 
Download it here!

 I am going to be moving my family to whole milk for a lot of reasons.  It may sound counter intuitive to the weight loss goal, but check this out if you're interested in hearing why.  Or here. 
Or here...

Couldn't wait!

You know that feeling from when you were young and you got to pick something out at the grocery store, then go home and eat it all right away?  That's how I felt about getting started with the 2 Day Fast (search for Cleanse)...  Ordinarily, I am NOT a fan of these limited calorie diets.  I'm doing this only to jump start/cleanse before a new program and because it's a very short amount of time. 

It's been challenging.  I'm at the end of Day 1 and I am definitely hungry, but not as hungry as I would be had I not eaten crappy the last 2 days ending with pizza last night.  I'm sure a lot of that carried over to today.  Oh, and I got the chocolate.

Here's what I did today:
7:30- shake
8-9- hot tea
9- starting to get hungry
9:11- forgot and took 1 piece of my son 's life cereal
More tea (super sore throat)
11:30- shake, added ice and frozen coffee cubes to avoid headache
Peach tea
3pm- walk: 2.1 Miles
Headache!
6pm- shake, just ice this time.
Peach tea

I am keeping track of lbs lost but won't post it till tomorrow. ;)
I am doing it with a friend which really helps.  I made the kids popcorn and was so tempted!  So, I texted her instead of eating any, even though I know she wasn't near her phone.  Definitely do this with a friend.  It's getting to where everything looks yummy, lol.

After tomorrow, I'll be going to a normal 1200-1500 calorie/day goal. 
Tonight, I'm going to work on adding those predone recipes to the Nutritional Calculator app I use for calorie tracking- SparkPeople.com

Happy Sunday everyone! Hope to have great results to share tomorrow!

Arrived!!!

(First blogger app post so please be gracious!)
So my products finally arrived- yay!!!

I will have a new post soon about a yeast cleanse I am doing in conjunction with this endeavor... But the products are pictured below.

This week proved to me that this was a good decision. It's been stressful ( and will be for about 2 months as we prepare to move cross country) and I gained 2 pounds. Ugh!

Monday starts the 2 day fast. Ill weigh in before & after. Then be doing the regular shake regimen after that. The box did come with a sheet of recipe ideas- yay!!!

Waiting...

I got the shipping notice super fast on what I thought was my first shipment of shakes!  Alas, it wasn't.  It was this box, that had gone through FedEx Smart post which meant I was either waiting a week for it to be delivered to me or getting it myself.  (And remind you, I thought it was my shakes.)  This was what I got- a big box with a welcome folder containing only 1 DVD and 1 CD.  Nothing else.

 This "waiting time" is almost working against me.  With Easter candy laying around and leftover cupcakes from my Matilda Jane party, I'm not being as good as I had been even last week.  Oh well.  Tomorrow, right?  Lots of walking at the Cincinnati Homeschool Convention.  And hopefully, before the weekend, my shakes will have arrived.  I did already get the shipping notice, but who knows what that means!

SHIPPED!

With an estimate of 5-7 business days, you can imagine how impressed I was when I saw the "shipped" notice today on my order!

I am excited.  I am starting with the 2 day Fast (in chocolate- find it under Shop, then Search for Cleanse)

Then, moving on to alternating Chocolate/Greenberry options.  I like that there are recipes given for each of these with varying calorie counts to help you not get bored with just one option.  

I'll be keeping up with my progress on my dashboard here.

It's sort of a big deal...

I have hit some major milestones with my Thirty-One business in the past 2 months.  I have been reshaping my own goals for my journey and how I view myself as a leader in the company.  After December, I shifted some major things around and am THRILLED to see how positively this has impacted my team and personal business.  I believe God is behind these changes 100% and I feel more like ME and that I'm being true to the unique calling I have in front of me.


Motivator #1: My husband has a BIG thing coming up for work at our new station at the end of May.  I want to look great there when I am supporting him and am so proud of all he's done.  

Motivator #2: Thirty-One's National Conference is happening in July!  I've earned it for free GOLD LEVEL BABY!  And I will be watching as 5 of my downline Directors (ALL my Downline Directors!) walk stage for their promotions.  I want to look at the pictures we take together and not feel ashamed of my body.

Motivator #3: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC BABY!!!!!  I have earned, through the incredible support of my customers, hostesses and team members, the trip for 2 to the DR in Sept, the same month as a celebration for myself and my spouse.  SO, again, I want to look GREAT and feel GREAT while we make these memories, not ashamed.  

Here's the thing.  I am PROUD of what my body has done- carried our 3 beautiful children to (and PAST) term.  Nursed them.  But it's taken its toll.  I feel better- more confident, happier, more stable emotionally, when I'm taking all the right steps to nuture it and keep it healthy.  And as a result, my weight is lower. Which makes it easier to be more active and a good role model for those 3 awesome kiddos that call me Mom.

I LOVE my Smoothies.  Since going back to 1/day and watching calories, I've lost 9 pounds this month.  Which is awesome!  (I do use Sat as a cheat day, but still...)  That's weight loss I am happy with.

However, we have a LOT of change coming up soon in our family and my blender just isn't going to be available to me all the time.  So what then?

I'd heard of Shakeology before.  Obviously, given my smoothie love, a friend suggested it to me when she too was thinking about dress shopping for conference (she's walking!!!!  SO PROUD OF HER!).  She learned that as military dependents, the enrollment fee is waived!  So, we bit the bullet.  We're doing it together.  Obviously, I was hesitant.  The idea of moving AWAY from whole foods kills me as I have worked HARD to get where I am.  But, I need to find something to use for right now.  I'm praying this is it!


And I want to check in here with the results.  I may post more often at first, but not sure...  So, here's where you can go to check it out. 

What do you want me to post? Pics? Reviews? Recipes?  Am I brave enough to post real numbers?  If you're with the Beach Body site, add me as a buddy!  SkinnyPenguin!

Have a blessed day!!!

Ups and Downs

It's normal in life, right?  Those awesome moments then the set backs?

I lost 2.4 pounds the first week of focusing on my calories and fitness and then gained 2 back for the next week.  *sigh*

So, I'm trying really hard to not let it get me down.  It's only a number.  It takes WEEKS of effort to get the ball rolling.  All that positive self talk... 

I got lots of questions on my smoothies after my last post about what I almost didn't eat.  These are the best way for me to get my nutritional requirements met.  I still have gaps, but this is huge in at least starting somewhere positive.

I use these as my lunch.  I don't eat the same lunch I prepare for my kids for a lot of reasons.  But, I find that it takes me a while to drink my smoothie which occupies time during the day and keeps me from snacking on bad stuff.

I've been adding the Chia Seeds to my smoothies a lot for a couple of reasons- one, they seem to show up on every "make sure you eat these" list from everything to weight loss to avoiding cancer.  Second, they have an interesting property that I can watch happen in my blender- they puff up when they absorb liquid.  Not like popcorn or anything, but you'll notice the mixture turn a little frothy and it simulates yogurt in the drink, almost.

Here's a recipe that includes the Chia Seeds and all the nutritional info on it as well.  I'll be honest, I really didn't want to drink this today.  I wanted to go to Starbucks and get a latte and a cookie. :P  But, I'll drink my Smoothie and then head to RIPPED and hopefully be much happier with myself on weigh-in day.

If you are someone who "must eat something", try a cheese stick, nuts, something else with it.  Popcorn maybe.  I get it...

Here's a good breakfast Smoothie or even afternoon pick me up if you like coffee:

Source: fitisthenewblack.me via Amy on Pinterest

Have a blessed day!

What I Almost Didn't Eat

If you know me personally or have been following my blog, you know that I hate fruits and vegetables.  I don't eat them in my regular diet, not even applesauce.  I got introduced to Green Smoothies almost a year ago and loved the concept behind it- can't eat your fruits/veg?  Blend them!

Since I've been doing the smoothies again, here's a glimpse at what I wouldn't have eaten this week without it:

Contents of 4 Lunch Smoothies

1 Tbs Flax Meal
1 cup Strawberries
3 Bananas
4 c Fresh Spinach
1 Tbs Almonds
Juice of 4 lemons

1 small zucchini

1.5 cups Yogurt

1/2 Tbs Chia Seeds

1 cup Mango

1/3 Avocado

1 cup OJ

4 baby carrots

1/3 c Pineapple

I plugged this in to a nutritional online tool and got the following commentary. 

Nutritional Analysis

Good points

• Very low in cholesterol
• Low in sodium
• High in dietary fiber
• High in manganese
• High in potassium
• Very high in vitamin A
• High in vitamin B6
• Very high in vitamin C

Is there room to improve?  Of course.  But, it's WAY better than where I was!  Want to see what I was drinking?  Here are the recipes:

Mango Smoothie Plus

Mango Avocado Smoothie

Banana less Green Monster

Cleanse Smoothie with Strawberries

Do you Green Monster????