Meal Planning Friday

This week I am trying four new recipes. I need a change. Im tired of baked fish, baked chicken, brown rice and veggies. I will post the links to all of the recipes below.

Skinny Beef Casserole
Barbecue beans and chicken joes
Cabbage Pizza Casserole
Cabbage Roll Casserole

Advocare Days 7-10

Advocare Days 7-10

Whew! I am elated that the cleanse part of the challenge is complete!
I can honestly say I would never do that again. The price is too high and the supplements are painfully disgusting.

I did not make it to day 10 on the fiber drink. I threw up one too many times. Not because it made me ill but because I couldn't stomach the taste or texture.

Energy
I do find that my energy is through the roof in the morning but I feel a hard crash by lunch time and I am still begging for bedtime to come.

Mood
I did find a few things to help with my h-anger. I found sugar free chocolate pudding at just 60-70 calories. I, also, really enjoy Luna Bars. It's a protein bar but full of carbs so eat it early in the day if you must.

Conclusion
All in all I believe that the advocare cleanse just isn't for me. I have lost very little in 11 days and can't say that I feel amazing all the time and healthy. I will continue the challenge through day 24 because I have already purchased the products. I feel that the way I have been eating and exercising contributes to anything I have lost and the way I feel.

Here are the Stats as of the morning of day 11

- 1.8lbs
- 0" neck
- .5"Upper Arms
- 0." Chest
- 2" waist
- 1" hips
- 0" thighs
- 0" calf
That's a total of 3" lost in 11 days. I have worked hard for that 3" and I will gladly take it. I'm thrilled that its mostly in my worst area.

Meal Plan for July 26-Aug1

Meal Plan Friday didn't happen. Hunky sailor threw his back out and we spent the evening at the hospital. He is now resting in bed all hopped up on happy pills and I have a chance to sit down this morning and get it done.
Here is my meal plan for this week.
Please excuse the random items on my list. You just never know what will be on there.
This list does not include everything to make these meals, only what I don't have on hand.
Meals are getting pretty boring around here so next week I really will have to spend some time finding new recipes.

I'm pretty pumped for ceviche tonight. I know chips aren't healthy but I will try to find a baked or more healthy option. It was suppose to be date night but with Hunky sailors back out we will be curled up in bed watching a movie instead and ceviche will be a nice dinner treat.

Once again you can find the printable meal planner HERE

Advocare Days 4-6

Advocare 24 Day Challenge Days 4-6

Days 4-6 are still in the cleanse phase but thank goodness there is no fiber drink these 3 days. I now take a probiotic restore in the mornings. These are tiny pills and not a problem to take.

ENERGY
 My energy is so off and strange. I am exhausted all the time and wake up 5,0000 times a night. I wake early and the spark has actually started to work. I feel a burst of energy after drinking it and usually clean my house then. By lunch time, I am pooped again and have to pretty much force myself to go to the gym and cook dinner. By 6pm I am just hanging on until bedtime.

MOOD
I find myself hangry  (angry from hunger) most days. I am by no means starving myself but  going through carb and sugar withdrawal. I feel very deprived all the time. I did find some sugar free chocolate pudding cups at about 60 calories that seem to help. Still, Im tired of eating fruit and I just want pasta or bread.

Weight loss
Weight Loss is going really slow. So far Im extremely disappointed with advocare, I feel like crap, Im tired and Im hungry. Not exactly the best motivation to stay on the products.
I weighed in this morning at 152.6
I think I was 153 lbs on day 3.
I still haven't measured myself again as I am waiting until...I'm not sure what I am waiting for. I just know that I am hopeful that I am losing inches since pounds aren't really falling off. If I measure myself and have lost no inches, I may just be too disappointed.

I am ahead of my goals I set for myself. I wanted to be 153 lbs by Friday the 25th. Today is Thursday and I'm slightly under so I will take that victory.

Just like Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce

We interrupt blogging about weight loss progress to bring you something tasty....
   

    I was chatting with a friend of mine and we were talking about homemade food...Yum, food.
Sigh, anyhow I told her I had a fantastic recipe for barbecue sauce. This can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to one month. I have adapted this recipe from Noreen's Kitchen and The Kneady homesteaders recipes.

Just like Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce
1 1/2 Cups Ketchup
1 cup Brown Sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup water
2 TB Worchestershire sauce
1 TB mustard
1/2 tsp liquid smoke
1 TB Paprika
1 TB Garlic
1 TB onion Powder

Mix all ingredients in a pot and simmer on medium heat. Stir to prevent scorching. Cook until well combined. (maybe 10-20 minutes?). Store in air tight container or mason jar in the fridge for up to one month.

I hope you all will try out this recipe. It's so good. I haven't purchased bbq sauce since I found this keeper. It comes together quickly and saves a fortune.

Now, if you will excuse me, I have more water to drink and celery to munch on while I pretend it's something as tasty as this bbq sauce.

Advocare Cleanse Days 1-3

Here is the sum up for days 1-3 on the Advocare 24 day Challenge. This is only my opinion of the products thus far. I purchased these products with my own money and am not sponsored in any way.
Lets do this!

Spark
This is the energy drink powder you mix with 8oz water first thing in the morning and its suppose to give you great energy..
My thoughts...MEH..it may give you a slight little bit but I haven't seen a difference. I still miss my morning cup(s) of joe. Not going to lie, Im looking forward to a nice large coffee when this is all done.

FIBER DRINK
Do I need to explain this one? This HAS to be the MOST REVOLTING thing on the planet! Imagine trying to drink sawdust. I spent several minutes each morning gagging over the trash can. Forcing myself to keep it down. REVOLTING, I say.

THE FOOD PLAN
The food Plan isn't bad. It's your basic healthy eating plan. I adhere to a strict 1200-1400 calories a day. No white starches, creamy sauces or pre packed food allowed.

OMEGAPLEX
Basically fish oil on steroids. Not hard to take and no terrible taste.

HERBAL CLEANSE
3 horse sized pills taken before bed daily. These taste awful as well. Days 1 and 2 I wasn't sure if this was doing anything. Day 3 was when the "cleanse" action started taking place, if you know what I'm saying. HOLY COW, did it take action!

So now onto the good stuff.

RESULTS
I find myself extremely tired during the day. I fall asleep quickly at night but wake up early.

.6 lbs down. I weighed in at 153.0 this morning.
I have not measured myself yet. It's been a busy weekend y'all.

On a side note:
I made the bangin good shrimp last night for dinner over brown rice and steamed broccoli slaw. It was so darn delicious! Great heat but not spicy. I did make the kids plain shrimp and rice and they gobbled it up.

How I meal Plan

I try to meal plan on a weekly basis. It saves money and helps us eat right. I am trying three new recipes this week and will leave the links to the recipes below.

HERE is the free printable template I use for meal planning.

Hawaiian Bun-less Burger

Bangin' Good Shrimp  --Side Note: I will sub Greek Yogurt for the Light mayo

Chicken Florentine