Advocare 24 Day Challenge - Day 16

Day 16!!!! I feel like this is the home stretch! I weighed yesterday morning. I have lost 2.5 lbs. I am pretty sure I have lost some inches though. The boyfriend said (more than once) that he could tell I had lost. I'll take whatever I can get.

For whatever reason I felt like total poo yesterday. I was also completely exhausted. I think I have "Murph" to thank for that. Needless to say, a workout was not done. I stayed true to the challenge though.

I did make a new recipe! Turkey meatloaf. I wasn't sure how much I would like this, but it turned out REALLY good. I used this recipe from "The Motivated Mama."

Couple of notes:
1. I only used a 6 ounce can of tomato paste and it was plenty
2. I would add a little water to the paste/sauce on top when you mix it together. It's a bit thick.
3. I use salted versions of everything.

Along with the meatloaf, I made some roasted spaghetti squash. This is becoming a go to in my house. Fast, easy, and couldn't taste better!


Spaghetti Squash

1 spaghetti squash
olive oil
Kosher salt
Pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Cut squash lengthwise and dig out seeds. Drizzle olive oil on flesh side of spaghetti squash (doesn't need a whole lot). Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place squash flesh side down on baking sheet and roast for 30-40 minutes. Once cool enough to handle, use a fork to scrape out the squash.

**You will know it's done when it's a bit darker and you can scrape all the way to the thin edge of the squash. I like roasting it in the oven much better than the microwave method. I think it's too watery in the microwave.

Advocare 24 Day Challenge - Day 3

Well, I'm surviving and now I'm feeling full and not missing the carbs and delicious processed foods so much. I have to hand it to my old friend avocado (did I just sound like a Subway commercial?) because that seems to be saving me. I look forward to meals with avocado in them!

So, yesterday... Here's the rundown on what went in my bawdy. As a side note, I would like to mention that day 3 was even easier than day 2. I felt full all day long. I think my body is finally getting used to all this healthiness. Go me!

Breakfast was old faithful - aka scrambled eggs with fresh spinach. Only after having my Spark and fiber drink, of course. This was the last day of the fiber drink until day 8, when you drink it for the final 3 days of the cleanse. Not gonna lie... I will miss it (see, I don't hide my freak flag. I just wave it around for the world to see.)

Morning snack was an apple.

Lunch was a repeat from the day before, but I loved it so much that I will put a picture of it up again.  Avocado chicken salad and side salad with homemade dijon vinaigrette.

Afternoon snack was some homemade hummus and sliced cucumbers.  I have to say, hummus takes 5 minutes to make, it's delicious, and it makes enough to last a while. This should be a staple in everyone's 24 Day Challenge. 

Dinner was some yummy chicken and veggie kabobs! I love kabobs anyway, so having them during this challenge just made it that much better. I marinated my chicken in fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, olive oil, kosher salt, pepper and Old Bay seasoning. I halved brussel sprouts and added them (this was a first), along with some squash. I cut up some eggplant and seasoned with olive oil and kosher salt for the grill as well. It was all DELICIOUS. Very easy too.

So my after dinner snack (this was the first time I've had one on the challenge) was half a banana with some organic natural peanut butter. And let me tell you ... it was the nectar of the Gods. There is no picture because I ate it too fast.

Advocare Challenge - Day 2 is in the Bag

As much as I love the possibilities of this challenge, I also feel like there are so many things left up in the air. Can I have brown rice during the cleanse? Why are some people eating cheese? Well, I've decided that for me, I am going to not have ANY dairy, bread, etc during this challenge. I will work some quinoa and brown rice in at some point, but I haven't yet.

So, yesterday went much smoother than Monday. I wasn't so hungry and I loved all of my meals.

Breakfast was 2 scrambled eggs with fresh spinach. I threw it in a container and slightly reheated at work (after I had my Spark and fiber drink).

P.S. I am starting to actually like the fiber drink. Stockholm Syndrome? Or maybe I am just a freak.

My morning snack was a banana. This kept me full until lunch. 

Lunch was my favorite meal yesterday! I had Avocado Chicken Salad (see below for recipe), a green salad with kalamata olives, tomatoes & cucumber. I made a simple dressing of olive oil, red wine vinegar, dijon mustard and salt & pepper. I had some homemade hummus with cucumber slices for my complex carb. That was something I hadn't been getting in and needed to. Don't be fooled by the way that chicken salad looks ... it's AMAZING. I may never eat regular chicken salad again.



My afternoon snack was a tangerine and some almonds. I also had another Spark before my Crossfit workout. Thanks for kicking my butt "Jackie."

Dinner was a reheat from the night before. Still good! Lemon Herb Pork Chops, mashed cauliflower and steamed green beans.

I think I am getting the hang of this and it's DEFINITELY doable!


Avocado Chicken Salad
2 chicken breasts
1 avocado
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/4 cup yellow onion, diced
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Sprinkle both sides of chicken breast with salt & pepper and bake, covered, until done. Shred chicken. While chicken cools, dice avocado and squeeze in lemon juice. Mash together to keep from turning brown later. Add onion, salt, pepper and chicken. Mash all together until creamy, with chicken being the only chunks.

Deeeeelish!

My Advocare 24 Day Challenge Journey ... Here Goes Nothin

Day 1 Recap
Anyone who knows me is more than nervous that I am going 10 straight days without wine, cheese or "real" carbs. I love my Cabernet, all cheeses and some cheddar goldfish (see how I snuck cheese into my carbs?). The full challenge is 24 days, but the first 10 are the cleanse portion and I am trying to be the most strict during that phase. No dairy, alcohol, fried foods, processed foods, white starches, or sugar. So basically all that is good in the world. I'm really even limiting anything that comes from a can, though some things (aka black beans and chickpeas) will just have to work.

I have weighed and measured myself (not for public knowledge). I took before pics last night and will post those at the end of the challenge with my after pics. I'm excited about this challenge and eating cleaner!

Each morning you wake up and drink an Advocare Spark. I have been drinking Spark pretty regularly for the last couple of months, so this was no big deal to keep up doing on the challenge and they taste great! Then there is the fiber drink. Well, I read other blogs about this before ordering the challenge and so I got the Peaches & Cream because it's supposed to taste better. It really isn't bad. Just chug it and get it over with. Supposedly, it gets thicker the longer it sits, so don't hesitate. And for those wondering, no ... I didn't run to the bathroom immediately after. I started this on a Monday (yesterday) and carried on with a regular work day.

I read where being prepared is the best thing you can do to stay on track for this challenge and so far, that is definitely right! I pre-cooked some chicken breasts (sprinkled with salt & pepper and put in the skillet over a little olive oil) to have for salads, etc. I made some homemade hummus (recipe at the bottom) and mixed up some fruit to take for snacks. I also bagged serving sizes of raw almonds to keep on hand.

So, here's the skinny on what I ate yesterday:

Breakfast was 2 scrambled eggs. I was in a hurry and late for work so I cooked them and threw them in a container to eat after I drank my fiber drink at work. My mid-morning snack was some berries & mango I put together that morning before work.

Lunch was so good! I cut up my 4 ounce chicken breast and made 2 lettuce wraps with hummus, chicken, and diced tomatoes. I was still kind of hungry so I had some almonds as well. I think it was really in my head about being hungry, more than actually needing more food. 1st day mind games. I had an apple for my afternoon snack.

Dinner was the best yet and super easy. Lemon Herb Pork Chops with mashed cauliflower and steamed green beans. Super filling and all delicious!


Hummus
2 cans chickpeas, drain & reserve liquid
2 lemons, juiced
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 Tbsp Tahini
1 tsp Kosher salt
Pepper, to taste
Red pepper, dash

Combine all ingredients in food processor. Add chickpea liquid (as needed) to thin out and make smooth. Enjoy!!!

Tip: Cut up cucumber and use for dipping. It tastes GREAT with hummus and will work perfect during this challenge.