Day 8- CONGRATULATIONS DANIELLE AND DAN PEMBLE!

My day...

• 9am: Spark
• 10:45am: Baked red delicious apple, blueberries and strawberries
• 12:45pm: Cranberry nut peanut butter
• 2:45pm: Salad- Romaine lettuce, chicken breast, bacon, mushrooms and onions
• 4:45pm: Fiber drink, cranberry nut PB
• 9:30pm: Omega-3, green peppers and hummus

My thoughts...

Today marks the start of a new routine and the home stretch of the Herbal Cleanse phase of The Challenge. Starting today and going until the tenth and final day of the cleanse, I drink Spark in the morning, take a probiotic before lunch, drink a fiber drink as a snack after lunch, and take Omega-3s with supper.

Photo taken by the Pemble's. I'm babysittin' this...

I wasn't hungry at all after I had the Fiber Drink for a "snack." I ate my final meal only because I knew I should eat when I take my Omega-3s. Weird! We'll see if its the same tomorrow.

But, most importantly, my friends, Danielle and Dan Pemble just had their first child yesterday! His name is Moses and he's the world's biggest badass. 

Day 7- Dairy isn't meant for humans, Amenorrhea

My day...

-8:15am: Spark
-10:15am: Baked apple, sauteed banana, cinnamon :):)
-12:15pm: Apple, banana, jerky
-2:15pm: Apple, banana, jerky
-4pm: Probiotics
-5:30pm: Green and red peppers, tomatoes
-7:30pm: eggs over easy with Sriracha, blueberries
-10:30pm: Omega-3s, Salad- romaine, spinach, Italian dressing, avocado, sun flower seeds
-Herbal Cleanse before bed
-12pm-4:30pm: Drove from Milwaukee to Marquette.


My thoughts...

Last night, I was curious as to why dairy food was so bad for your body, so I did a little research and came across this article written by Dr. Mark Hyman.

Dr. Mark Hyman

http://drhyman.com/blog/conditions/dairy-6-reasons-you-should-avoid-it-at-all-costs/

Even though the dairy aspect of yogurt makes it "bad," I started eating yogurt as a teenager because of the bacterial benefits (I know that sounds weird). Here's my explanation:

When I was in high school, I took medication for acne. The medication's job was to remove the bacteria from my body that causes acne. It worked REALLY well! However, a woman's body needs this said bacteria in order to prevent the growth of yeast in their, dare I say, "hoo-ha." My dermatologist strongly advised me to eat yogurt everyday in order to prevent yeast infections. It defintely worked, because I got two yeast infections almost back-to-back at first, but then they subsided. This strategy is also true for women taking any kind of anti-biotic. Therefore, I'm tempted to keep eating Greek yogurt for that reason ONLY.

I also wanted to address Amenorrhea.

[Amenorrhea is the absense of a menstrual period in a woman of a reproductive age. Its caused by hormonal disturbances due to weight loss via dieting or significant amounts of exercise. It can also be caused by bone loss due to old age or lack of nutrients. Treatments include oestrogen therapy and/or decreasing exercise and increasing caloric intake].

Long story short: Please, make sure you're eating enough if you're exercising and dieting!

Short story long: When I was eight years old, I started running cross country in the Fall and track and field in the Spring. Since that age, I remained highly active in all sorts of sports year round. By the time I turned 17, I never had a period and was advised by my doctor to start taking birth control in order to menstruate. Within three months, my bodyweight went from 125lbs to 140lbs and I finally got my period. Throughout college, I experimented with going off the pill to see if I could menstruate on my own. The result was natural weightloss and my periods disappearing. Since my weightloss during The Challenge, I haven't experienced Amenorrhea... yet? My period has come a week early though. I'm hoping its just "a thing" and not a problem. Does any other girl have a situation similar to this? Have you received treatment or fixed it?

Day 6

My day...
-9am: Spark
-10am: Egg, leftover steak, mushrooms and peppers, blueberries and strawberries
-1pm: banana and apple
-2pm: Probiotics
-3pm: Salad- mustard greens, salmon, sauteed mushrooms, avocados, blueberries and strawberries with peanut butter
-5:30pm: V8 Splash Light
-8:15pm: Steak, sauteed mushrooms and onions, blueberries and strawberries and peanut butter
-Herbal Cleanse

My thoughts

I'm sleeping so well and I love it. I'm going to bed early, falling asleep quickly, and waking up 6-8 hours later feeling really good. I also feel no anxiety like I usually do right before bed. I've decided that I want to keep up this gluten-free and dairy-free lifestyle after The Challenge, but allow myself three days a month to "chEAT" (see what I did there?). It makes me think I have food allergies/sensitivities since not eating these foods have resulted in such great feelings. I'm already planning on replacing my love for cheese (DAMN YOU, WISCONSIN!!) with avocados, a much healthier fat source. Yesterday, I tried spreading avocado on my steak and it RULED.

Day 5

My day...

-8:30am: Spark
-10am: Eggs over easy, bacon, sauteed mushrooms in Extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper
-Noon: Blueberries, strawberries and bananas
-1:45pm: Probiotics
-2:15pm: Zucchini, tomato, carrots and chicken soup, apple
-4:50pm: peppers and tomatoes
-7pm: Salad- romaine lettuce, tuna avocado, Italian dressing and pepper
-8:30pm: omega-3s, Steak, sauteed mushrooms and peppers, berries and peanut butter
-Herbal Cleanse before bed

-Noon-7pm: Gimmick table read.
 
My thoughts...

I weighed myself this morning and was at 131.2lbs! Yay! I feel great too; never "starving" or exhausted. I feel very balanced inside. This is weird, but I've been feeling "girlier" since starting The Challenge. Not a "I LIKE PINK, GIRLS NIGHT OUT OMG" girly (sweet Christ, not like that), but a "mature and feminine" girly. I'm more confident. Its amazing how much food effects your hormonal levels.

Day 4

My day...

• 9am: Spark
• 10am: Baked apple, blueberries and raspberries, cinnamon :)
• 12pm-4:30pm: Almonds, grilled cajun seasoned whitefish, pickles, beef frank, Probiotic Retore
• 5pm-10pm: Omega-3e, apples, bananas, beef jerky
• 11pm: peanut butter
• Herbal Cleanse before bed

• 10am-4:30pm: Work
• 5pm-10pm: Traveling to Milwaukee

My thoughts...

SLEPT GREAT AGAIN :)! Today started a new routine with the Herbal Cleanse system: I drink only Spark in the morning, take a probiotic in the afternoon, then have my Omega-3s and Herbal cleanse pack in the evening and night. I'm traveling to Milwaukee later this afternoon and will be heading back home on Tuesday. I'm hoping being in a new place doesn't trip me up! I'm planning on grocery shopping and buying a weekend's worth of food so I can carry my meals with me everywhere... Yes, I'll be "THAT GUY." I finally arrived in Slinger-dinger, my mom surprised me with a basket of food :) She's been reading my blogs! Yay! So glad to be home :)

Day 3

My day...

• 9am: Fiber drink with Spark
• 10:15am: One baked red delicious apple with cinnamon, raspberries and blueberries
• 12pm-3:30pm: Almonds, Whitefish cajun grilled, Romaine salad: sauteed mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, oil and vinegar
• 5pm: Peanut butter
• 10pm: Omega-3s, sauteed sweetpea pods an avocado, olive oil and black pepper
• Herbal Cleanse before bed

• 10am-4pm: Work

My thoughts...

I slept so well last night! I woke up on my own around 7:15am and felt super rested and happy. I also got a career offer from Harley Davidson to be their Marketing Manager! I accepted the job and will be starting full-time in a couple of weeks. Until then, I will be finishing out being full-time at my current job as well as start learning as much as possible about Harley Davidson; I'm very excited! I wasn't that hungry today, hence why I didn't eat until 10pm... I wasn't hungry at all but had to take my Omega-3 capsules. Weird! I haven't been able to exercise in a while. Since I don't have a gym membership, I'm hoping to get into a routine where I wake up early to go run at the Superior Dome track. Either way, I still feel really good!

Day 2

My day...

• 9am: Fiber drink and Spark
• 9:30am: Spinach and mushroom omelet
• 12:45pm: Golden delicious apple, almonds
• 3:30pm: Romaine salad- sauteed mushrooms, bacon, onions and tomato, oil and black pepper
• 7pm: Omega-3, Spinach salad- avocado, sunflower seeds, olive oil and black pepper
• 10:30pm: Sauteed spinach and mushrooms
• Herbal Cleanse before bed.

• 10am-4:30pm: Work

My thoughts...

For a few months now, I've been having a hard time falling and staying asleep. Yesterday morning and this morning, I shot awake a few minutes earlier than my alarm, feeling wide-awake and rested. I'm thinking that my new eating habits has helped me in my slumber.  Also, I had a wildly vivid and adventurous dream! I wonder if the Herbal Cleanse packet had anything to do with it... (if so, I'm taking this stuff the rest of my life, ha!) When I lifted in college, I would take Nighttime Recovery from AdvoCare, in order to help heal my wounded muscles every night while I slept. It worked SO WELL and also gave me super fun dreams. I need to start taking that stuff again.

DAY 1!

Before...

Measurements: 34-27-38

Weight: 134lbs

Waist to hip ratio (WHR): .71

My day...

• 9am: 8oz Fiber drink and Spark (my distributor suggested I mix the Fiber drink with Spark rather due to the high sugar content of juice).
• 10am: Raspberries, blueberries and one baked red delicious apple with cinnamon
• 12:45pm: Celery and peanut butter
• 3pm: Romaine lettuce salad, onions, tomatoes, bacon, oil and pepper
• 6:20pm: Venison
• 7:30pm: 4 Omega-3's, Salmon, avocado, sweet-pea pods with olive oil and black pepper
• 11pm: Almonds
• Herbal Cleanse packet before bed

• 10am-4:30pm: Work
• Superior Dome workout (1 mile run, lower body and core Pilates) for 30min

My thoughts...

I friggin' love avocados. I need to add a larger portion of lean protein or a side of fruit to my lunch salads. They don't satisfy my hunger. I'm really happy with my WHR; its healthy and flattering. Therefore, I want to stay proportional as I'm losing weight. Essentially, I just want to shrink everything by an inch :)

Off to day two! Keep it safe and legal.

Day -1

Notes...

I didn't eat the peanut butter last night, woohoo!

My day...

• 10am: Mushroom and spinach omelette with garlic, onion and hot sauce
• 12:30pm: Red delicious apple and peanut butter
• 4:30pm: Spinach salad with sauteed shrimp (garlic, onion and sriracha), sunflower seeds and avocado
• 5:45pm: Peanut butter
• 7:30pm: Mini spinach salad with avocado, pepper and olive oil
• 11pm: Sauteed spinach, mushrooms and venison

• 1:30pm-2:30pm: Three runs of skiing

My thoughts...

I didn't keep a consistent eating schedule today, but I ended up not being as hungry as I was the past couple of days. I think I have to focus more on eating clean when I'm hungry rather than being OCD about eating every two or three hours. When I obsessed with eating increments in college, I drove myself insane. However, I am VERY excited about starting The Challenge tomorrow! My friend ordered The Challenge as well, so I have someone to talk to during my experience.

YAY.

Keep it safe and legal.

Day -2

Notes...

I cracked last night. I couldn't fall asleep because I was hungry, so I ate some venison around midnight :-/ I suppose I should eat more throughout the day to prevent late night hunger bouts. However, I did drink a bottle of water before bed, raising my water intake from 32oz to 48oz.

My day...

• 11:30am-noon: 8oz Fruit Punch Spark
• noon: One baked red delicious apple, raspberries and blueberries
• 2:30pm: Raw almonds
• 4:30pm: Spinach salad with spciy tuna and sunflower seeds
• 6:30pm: Peanut butter
• 9:30pm: Sauteed shrip and green beans with lemon, garlic and ginger seasoning
• 11:30pm: Peanut butter... maybe!

• Ran laps and intervals at The Superior Dome for about 30min
• Muay Thai from 7pm-7:45pm
• Water around 40oz again.

My thoughts...

I'm not hungry after exercising... if only I could exercise 24 hours a day, HA! Today was a better day in terms of not feeling hungry. I ate a little bit more at every meal and didn't worry as much about eating in exactly two-hour increments; I just ate meals when I felt hungry (coincidentally, that happened about every two hours!) The reason I have "maybe" after my 11:30pm meal is because its a "just in case I'm hungry then" meal.

Until then, I am rapidly approaching the actual 24-Day Challenge day!

But until then, keep it safe and legal.

Day -3

My day...

• 10am-10:30am: 8oz Mandarin Orange Spark
• 10:30am: Baked one golden delicious apple with cinnamon
• 12:30pm: Celery and peanut butter
• 2:30pm: Romaine salad with cajun seasoned cod tossed in oil and balsamic vinaigrette
• 4:30pm: Celery and peanut butter
• 6:30pm: Spicy pickles
• 8:30pm: Salmon and steamed green beans

• Work from 11am-7:30pm
• Drank about 32oz of water

Baked golden delicious apple with cinnamon

My thoughts...

I didn't feel hungry until about 3pm, but then stayed hungry throughout the evening and night. I'm tempted to eat once more before bed, but probably won't. I realized I only drank half the amount of water recommended every day. Perhaps that's the reason I feel hungry? Tomorrow, I'm going to try to drink 64oz evenly throughout the day to see if that makes a difference. I didn't sleep well last night, so I think I'm going to hit the sack early and see how I feel in the a.m.

Goodnight. Keep it safe and legal.

The Last Supper

24-Day Challenge with MNS 3

I'm currently staring at my 24-Day Challenge products sent from my friend Joe, an AdvoCare distributor.

AdvoCare's 24-Day Challenge is an herbal cleanse and nutrition supplement system to help aide people and athletes in weight-loss and athletic performance. The first 10 days of The Challenge is an herbal cleanse and the last 14 days is a Metabolic Nutrition System targeted toward either wellness, energy or appetite control.

As my eyes glazed over I started thinking about ways to fully dedicate myself to The Challenge. How about writing a daily blog about my experience? Because, I mean, if it's on the interwebs, then its purely legitimate and read by millions, so I have to keep up with it. BRILLIANT.

Eat clean, bitches!

The reason I chose to experience The Challenge was because I really enjoy fitness and health. Also, I'm trying to return to a bodyweight I was most confident at. In 2009, I went from being a powerful endurance athlete to a powerful weightlifting athlete. For a solid year, I focused only on pure strength rather than a healthy balance of endurance and power. In a year's time, I went from a quick and agile 125 pounder to a strong-as-shit 148 pound power-house. Don't get me wrong, I was stoked on my 260lb dead-lift, but eventually, I wasn't stoked about feeling like death while attempting a one-mile run.

So, in 2010, I decided to reverse everything and go back to the bike-riding, quick sprinting sonofabitch I originally was... Who'd'a thought trying to self-impose muscle atrophy would be so difficult.....

Its currently 2013 and I'm sitting between 133lbs and 135lbs. It took long enough, but I'm getting close to my goal-weight of 128lbs.

My plan is to eat the diet I created for The Challenge three days before I actually start it... This way, I'll be able to work out "the kinks" before fully committing to a proper diet. And by "kinks" I mean "homicide due to hunger anger." We all know how that goes.

I dubbed today my last day before I start testing the diet. Therefore, I ate like complete GARBAGE. And, sweet Christ, I feel like GARBAGE. I kind of enjoy it however, because it motivates me to immediately put fresh and healthy food in my body. Well, starting tomorrow at least.

I will be trying very hard to post something everyday. I think it'll help me "let out" any frustration or share any happiness I'm experiencing during The Challenge. If you care, keep reading my updates and post some comments. If you don't care, then stop being weird and close this tab.

Until then, tomorrow starts day -3!

Keep it safe and legal.