Advocare 24 Day Challenge: Days 2 and 3

We have completed our first 3 days already! It has gone really well so far, and I don't think this is going to be as hard as I thought it would be. I really have a "negative nancy" attitude (something I really need to work on), but I always expect and plan for the worst. I love it when I prove myself wrong :) Here are my thoughts on the last two days.

Thoughts on the products:

• The fiber drink is still awful. I still gag at least once while trying to drink it, but I have figured out that if I mix it with a lot more water than it calls for and a little bit of Spark, I can get it down a heck of a lot easier. Thankfully we get a four day break from it.
• I love Spark. Our kit came with the fruit punch and mandarin orange flavors. The fruit punch is pretty good and tastes like red Kool-aid to me. The mandarin orange is okay. I'm not really a citrusy person, but still, it's not bad. I recently ordered a canister of the watermelon flavor because I've heard good things about it, and Scott loves watermelon. Hopefully it lives up to it's reputation. I love the Spark because it is a nice break from plain water, and it provides a little energy kick that helps me get off my butt and do things around the house that I usually wouldn't have the energy or motivation to do. It also doesn't make you crash like energy drinks can, and is a savior for those after lunch sleepies.
• As for the Catalyst, Omegaplex, and herbal cleanse caplets, I really can't tell anything specific about what they're doing, but I'm sure they are doing what they're supposed to do because I am feeling like a better person already.

Thoughts on the "mental" aspects of the challenge:

• Like I said above, this challenge isn't easy, but it's really not as hard as I thought it would be. I went to my parents' house for the weekend, and as soon as I walked in the door there was cereal, chocolate, and fruit snacks staring me in the face. I won't lie, I really really really wouldn't have minded a big ol' bowl of cereal, but I told myself to look at the bigger picture. Would I rather have the fleeting satisfaction from eating the cereal or the longstanding satisfaction from saying no? Of course I said no, and was really proud of myself. Like that Pinterest quote says, it really is the small things.
• Since I have to eat breakfast and take supplements in the morning, I am much more motivated to wake up a lot earlier than I have been. This is a huge deal for me and another thing that I am proud of.
• I believe that Scott and I have both been happier and in an overall better mood the past few days, and I love that we are doing this together as a team.
• Losing weight is just as much a mental struggle as it is a physical struggle. You can never completely get away from outer influences, and that really sucks...but such is life. Ignoring, overcoming, and not giving in to those influences way outweighs the sucky parts of life though.

Thoughts on the physical aspects of the challenge:

• The biggest change I've noticed is an increase in energy and a lack of sluggishness. I just really feel good overall. 
• I feel like I have lost a lot of water weight. I don't feel bloated, and I don't have that "gross" feeling that is hard to describe but everyone knows what you're talking about. I've increased my water intake drastically, and obviously I'm peeing every 15 minutes. 
• *Disclaimer: this may be a little TMI so stop reading now if you want* I'm usually not a "regular" person, and I can always tell when I've been eating a bunch of junk because I get even more irregular. So far the first day was regular, the second day was irregular, and the third day was regular. I'm not sure why this is, but my body just may be trying to adjust to the fiber and healthier eating. I'm hoping that as the challenge progresses, this issue evens itself out. 
• The worst thing that has happened is that my face looks like I'm a teenager going through puberty. I normally have a decent complexion and only get a couple pimples here and there, but goodness gracious my face looks like a slice of pizza right now. I've been told that this is normal, and that it's just my body ridding itself of all the toxins and will start clearing up once the cleanse is over. 

Thoughts on the food:

• Eating healthy really isn't so bad! Scott has enjoyed everything I've made so far, I only disliked the tuna salad I made, and I have discovered some new favorite recipes that will definitely be repeated.
• I have branched out a little and discovered that I like hummus.
• Coconut oil is my new best friend.
• I found a new breed of apple (is that what you call it?) called an Envy apple, and it was advertised that it is a sweet apple and does not brown! I was a little skeptical of the no browning, but I was pleasantly surprised when it didn't brown after being cut and sitting out for a while. It really is a sweet apple, almost too sweet, but I sprinkled cinnamon on it, and that was really good. Almost like eating a dessert.
• I love love love my Crock Pot. Shout out to the lady that bought it for us as a wedding present :)
• My water consumption has increased significantly, and I am aiming for at least 100 ounces per day.

Here is a recipe of my favorite meal so far. I adapted it (and take no credit whatsoever) from an awesome blog that I have been following for a long time so it followed my no gluten and no dairy restrictions. Check out Gina's delicious and healthy recipes at Skinnytaste.

Crock Pot Italian Turkey Meatballs 

Meatball Ingredients

20 oz ground turkey breast

1/2 cup old fashioned oats, ground

1/4 cup parsley, finely chopped

1 egg

1 garlic clove, crushed (I used minced garlic in a jar)

1 tsp salt

pepper 

Sauce Ingredients

1 tsp olive oil

4 garlic cloves, crushed (I used minced garlic in a jar)

28 oz can no salt added crushed tomatoes

14.5 oz can no salt added diced tomatoes

1 bay leaf

salt

pepper

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, ground oatmeal, egg, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper. Mix with your hands and form into small meatballs, about 1.5 inches in diameter.

Pour crushed and diced tomatoes into the crock pot with bay leaf. Stir in garlic and oil. 

Drop meatballs into the sauce, put the lid on the crock pot, and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours. Add salt and pepper to taste when finished, and top with fresh parsley.

I served these with roasted spaghetti squash.

Makes about 24 meatballs.

Let me know if you try this recipe!

Kelley