Advocare 24 Day Challenge - FINISHED

I can't believe it, but I am FINISHED... and with VERY little cheating. I really had NO white carbs or sugars the entire time. That's a big feat for me.

So here's the good, the bad and the ugly about this whole deal. I can't believe I am about to post these pictures, but here goes ...

Before and Afters

 I know it may look like I'm slouching on purpose in the before photos, but I am not. Same posture in both ... I lost 2.5 pounds (my boyfriend lost 12 pounds and was secretly eating bits of cookie dough each day, so screw him), but you can definitely SEE a difference in these photos. I can tell that my clothes fit much better (some are even loose) and my face has thinned out some.

Here are my stats in inches lost:
Chest - Lost 1 1/2"
Arm - Lost 1" (I only measured one)
Waist - Lost 3 1/2"
Hips - Lost 2"
Leg - Lost 1"

I mean... combined that would be 11" total! That is assuming I lost the same amount on each arm/leg. I gotta say ... it definitely works! The best news is that 3 1/2" alone were in my waist! That's pretty awesome. 

My plan is to continue to cook this way at home, run, and do CrossFit, but I will allow myself some wine when I am out and I won't be such a psycho about getting to eat out. After all, I do love me some social time! I want to lose a couple of clothing sizes. Clearly the scale isn't my friend, so I will try to stick with how clothes fit.

As a reward for the 500 hours of cooking I have done the last 3 1/2 weeks my boyfriend is taking me on a fancy date Friday night. I'm going to tell you right now ... butter, steak, bread, and dessert will all be had. Then it's back to healthy living!

Letting Things Go

This will be my one deep thought post for the year.

Over time I've learned, and relearned, that there are people in your life worth keeping around and people who are just dragging you down. I saw this quote the other day and it made me think of what I've gone through the past few months. I had to let some friends and exes go completely in order to make myself happy and move on. I had to stop and remind myself that friends don't make you cry, they care about your feelings, and they treat you as you would treat them. Same for for a significant other or an ex in your life. Unfortunately, all too often this is not the case in life. I still struggle some over this, but when I stop and realize how many more good times I am having, it makes it a little easier to let go.

It can be liberating to keep people in your life that bring you joy and reliability. Always looking for the good times, but there for each other when the bad times inevitably come.

I got off the roller coaster and haven't regretted it one day. Doesn't mean it's always been easy, but definitely worth it.