Today is day 5 on the Advocare 24-Day Challenge. So far so good. I am definitely starting to feel more energy. It's hard to explain, but I don't feel nearly as "head tired". Hopefully you know what I mean. I just feel less like crap.
I am also feeling a bit more slender in my waist area. Wait...I forgot to take measurements before the the challenge! Darn. Maybe I should take them today, as I'm sure not too much has changed in five days.
I do think I ate too much fat yesterday. I had quite a large helping of avocado on my salad at lunch. And then a friend gave me some green apple slices with sunflower butter. Oh my goodness, have you tried sunflower butter? It is delish. I loved it and ate all that she gave me, which I'm guessing was a bit more than I needed.
I am also loving quinoa. Actually, I've always loved quinoa. I prefer it over brown rice and since I have hard time getting protein in my diet sometimes, it's a good choice as it has some protein in it.
And, as always, I'm really enjoying my spark twice a day!
Not much to really report today. I am glad that I made it through the holiday eating as I had planned to! That's huge for me, people! And I am definitely going to hit up the gym starting this weekend. I used to go to the gym in the morning before work and really liked that....maybe next week.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Thursday Thoughts
Happy Fourth!!! I'm linking up with Jen this morning for Thursday Thoughts!
I have big news....I ordered my very first iphone yesterday! I know, I KNOW! Where have I been, right? I'm always behind the times on everything, and usually I don't even care. I don't keep up with celebreties, I don't have a clue as to what the latest fashions are, I don't usually read magazines like People (although I always enjoy them when I do!) and we just got internet a couple months ago after not having it for three years. Seriously. So, an iphone is HUGE for me and I am excited!!! If you have any cool apps that I should know about, PLEASE tell me! I'm new, people, brand new!
I'm glad it's the 4th and all, and I appreciate living in our beautiful, awesome country, but I hate the 4th in my town...and at my work. Living in a resort town, things get wild here on the 4th. There's a gazillion people in our small 2-stop-light town and the grocery stores are a total mad house. My work is a zoo with customers and I'm not able to get my already-backed-up office manager/bookeeper work done as I have to work at the front counter helping customers. And it's flipping HOT! And not much air conditioning here in this town. So, a bit miserable to be honest. I know I'll enjoy things more tonight as I sit with my kids and watch the fireworks over the lake. Always a beautiful sight!
I'm hoping to get some vacation pictures posted soon. I'm wishing we were still on vacation!
I wish I knew what the unspoken blogging rules are. I mean, if I copy someone's idea (who probably copied someone else) is it rude? Is it flattering? I read so many blogs, and love so many blogs, and sometimes I see a post and think, "how fun! I would love to do a post like that" and then I get nervous to do it because I don't want to be a copycat (what am I in 3rd grade?). So please tell me if you have an opinion on such a thing.
I didn't (and still don't) know what google reader is. Does that matter? Do I need to know what is now gone? And I don't know what replaced it. Do I need to know that?
So, my blogs is still pretty new. I have a personal blog where I post a lot of pictures of my family and stuff, but I wanted a new, different, blog for other things such as reviews, crafts, recipes, Advocare, etc. and not bore my grandparents and the like to death who just want to see pictures of my fam (ok, let's be honest, they only want to see pics of the kdis). I, for some unknown reason, named my blog Nazys News. Nazy was a silly nickname that people called me when I was little. It was sometimes just Nazy, or Nae Nae, or Nazy Poo or Lazy Nazy. It is not fitting for me now at this point in my life, not that it was ever really fitting. And I have no idea why I reverted back to my toddler years and named my blog Nazy's News. My real name is Linae and couldn't come up with a clever blog name that had my real name in it. I've got to change the blog name. Any suggestions?
Gee, this whole post makes me sound a bit "off" in every way. Maybe I am :)
Happy 4th! Enjoy and be safe!
Advocare 24-Day Challenge Day 4
Another successful (aka non-cheating) day for me on the Advocare 24-Day Challenge! I still am very surprised that I haven't had any flu-like symptoms as the toxins leave my body. I have been a "clean eater" in the past and whenever I started to eat clean, I would feel sick-ish for a few days. I'm counting my blessings this time that I've been feeling overall great!
My only problem with this Challenge is that I really don't care for meat. We are supposed to have protein at each meal. Breakfast is easy as I do like eggs. I can usually do meat at dinner if my husband grills a turkey burger or chicken breast (although I can only eat about half at most). But seriously, I HATE leftover chicken. Why? I don't know. It doesn't taste the same to me the next day. I've tried leftover chicken cold in my salad, still hate it. Lunchtime is my struggle with protein. In the past I've had nonfat cottage cheese or greek yogurt as protein but I'm staying away from dairy right now. I've also always been a bean-eater, but I think for the challenge beans are considered a carb not a protein. Any thoughts on this? How crucial is the protein from meat source at meals? Wish I liked hunks of tofu. I don't.
I have still not weighed myself but I am feeling a tad bit "lighter". Not much, but I'll take it!
I've been having two Sparks per day. One right when I wake up and one around 1:30 or 2:00 at work. So far this has seemed to be a good system for keeping my energy going. And I'm still surprised that I don't even really miss coffee yet. Could be because it's soooo hot here that something cold to drink sounds SO much better than something hot!
I really need to add exercise into my daily routine! I will get right to that.
My only problem with this Challenge is that I really don't care for meat. We are supposed to have protein at each meal. Breakfast is easy as I do like eggs. I can usually do meat at dinner if my husband grills a turkey burger or chicken breast (although I can only eat about half at most). But seriously, I HATE leftover chicken. Why? I don't know. It doesn't taste the same to me the next day. I've tried leftover chicken cold in my salad, still hate it. Lunchtime is my struggle with protein. In the past I've had nonfat cottage cheese or greek yogurt as protein but I'm staying away from dairy right now. I've also always been a bean-eater, but I think for the challenge beans are considered a carb not a protein. Any thoughts on this? How crucial is the protein from meat source at meals? Wish I liked hunks of tofu. I don't.
I have still not weighed myself but I am feeling a tad bit "lighter". Not much, but I'll take it!
I've been having two Sparks per day. One right when I wake up and one around 1:30 or 2:00 at work. So far this has seemed to be a good system for keeping my energy going. And I'm still surprised that I don't even really miss coffee yet. Could be because it's soooo hot here that something cold to drink sounds SO much better than something hot!
I really need to add exercise into my daily routine! I will get right to that.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Advocare 24-Day Challenge Day 3
Another day down on the Advocare 24-Day Challenge. Day two went surprisingly well. I had been eating so much crap food that I think my body is thanking me for pulling in the reins and eating like a normal human should.
I was also able to swig down the entire fiber drink today. I think I now have a few days of not drinking that stuff, but have to look at the handy reference guide that comes with the challenge.
I am trying REALLY hard to not weigh myself for a while. I would really like to go the entire 24 days of not weighing, but I am a weigh-yourself-aholic so I think that's a bit too lofty of a goal. I'm thinking I can maybe do the first 10 days without weighing. I don't think there's anything wrong with stepping on the scale (naked, before breakfast) every morning, but with me, the number on the scale tends to dictate my mood/feelings for at least a little while that day. I lose or gain motivation depending on the number, even though I truly do understand and know that our bodies fluctuate in weight each day. Anyway, that's the goal. Yeah, good luck with that.
I had good energy yesterday and I'm still amazed that I can actually live a life and function without my morning coffee. Sure I have spark every morning, and that has caffeine in it, but it's still a HUGE feat for me to kick the coffee habbit for the challenge! Will it be a permanent thing?? Hmmm....not sure yet.
If you aren't familiar with the challenge you should definitely check it out. You can find lots of amazing health success stories that start with this very challenge. One day I will be one of those success stories!
I was also able to swig down the entire fiber drink today. I think I now have a few days of not drinking that stuff, but have to look at the handy reference guide that comes with the challenge.
I am trying REALLY hard to not weigh myself for a while. I would really like to go the entire 24 days of not weighing, but I am a weigh-yourself-aholic so I think that's a bit too lofty of a goal. I'm thinking I can maybe do the first 10 days without weighing. I don't think there's anything wrong with stepping on the scale (naked, before breakfast) every morning, but with me, the number on the scale tends to dictate my mood/feelings for at least a little while that day. I lose or gain motivation depending on the number, even though I truly do understand and know that our bodies fluctuate in weight each day. Anyway, that's the goal. Yeah, good luck with that.
I had good energy yesterday and I'm still amazed that I can actually live a life and function without my morning coffee. Sure I have spark every morning, and that has caffeine in it, but it's still a HUGE feat for me to kick the coffee habbit for the challenge! Will it be a permanent thing?? Hmmm....not sure yet.
If you aren't familiar with the challenge you should definitely check it out. You can find lots of amazing health success stories that start with this very challenge. One day I will be one of those success stories!
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Advocare 24-Day Challenge Day 2
So today is Day 2 for me on the Advocare 24-Day Challenge. I started yesterday with the program and I have to say, Day 1 went much smoother than I would have thought.
I ate clean ALL day (which is a big deal for me) and I took all the supplements at the right times. However, I did have a problem with the fiber drink. I was warned it was gross, and I think I thought about it too much and was practically gagging before I even started drinking it. There are small chunks in it, which did not help. So I only got half of it down.
Here's where I think I went wrong with the fiber drink: first of all, I didn't stir it enough. I've heard it's much better if it's shaken and stirred up real good. Second, the water wasn't cold enough. Third, I probably should measure out 8oz of water as I think I mixed it with way more, hence more to drink.
I had no problem with no coffee. That's because the caffeinated Spark drink really is as good as "they" say it is. I bought a canister of watermelon which is good. The 24-Day Challenge came with a box of fruit punch and a box of citrus. The boxes each have 14 individual packs, super easy to take with you to work or wherever. Fruit punch is the best. Truly so good.
I did have a headache by bedtime, but I think that's due to the fact that I get headaches. All. The. Time. I always have and always will. I take a migraine preventative (not working) and take way more ibuprofen than I wish I did. So, the headache was probably just me because that's how I am. Or because it's been 95 degrees here, and being in the Idaho mountains, we don't have air conditioning in our houses. I could NOT sleep last night because the room was muggy and hot. Totally miserable!
I worked 10 hours yesterday trying to begin the process of getting caught up after my vacation. And while I am putting another long day, I'll be wishing that we were still here......
I ate clean ALL day (which is a big deal for me) and I took all the supplements at the right times. However, I did have a problem with the fiber drink. I was warned it was gross, and I think I thought about it too much and was practically gagging before I even started drinking it. There are small chunks in it, which did not help. So I only got half of it down.
Here's where I think I went wrong with the fiber drink: first of all, I didn't stir it enough. I've heard it's much better if it's shaken and stirred up real good. Second, the water wasn't cold enough. Third, I probably should measure out 8oz of water as I think I mixed it with way more, hence more to drink.
I had no problem with no coffee. That's because the caffeinated Spark drink really is as good as "they" say it is. I bought a canister of watermelon which is good. The 24-Day Challenge came with a box of fruit punch and a box of citrus. The boxes each have 14 individual packs, super easy to take with you to work or wherever. Fruit punch is the best. Truly so good.
I did have a headache by bedtime, but I think that's due to the fact that I get headaches. All. The. Time. I always have and always will. I take a migraine preventative (not working) and take way more ibuprofen than I wish I did. So, the headache was probably just me because that's how I am. Or because it's been 95 degrees here, and being in the Idaho mountains, we don't have air conditioning in our houses. I could NOT sleep last night because the room was muggy and hot. Totally miserable!
I worked 10 hours yesterday trying to begin the process of getting caught up after my vacation. And while I am putting another long day, I'll be wishing that we were still here......
Monday, July 1, 2013
June Birchbox Review
Why haven't I ever ordered a Birchbox before? Seriously. This is some awesome stuff. And it's only $10 a month! Totally worth it. I was really looking forward to my July Birchbox's arrival and I was super excited to see it in my mailbox.
For some reason, the box seemed super small to me. It fit inside my post office box with lots of room to spare. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't sad about the size of the box, just a bit surprised for some reason. And it's actually really cute and I'll totally be reusing it.
I'm not sure what my problem is but I have been taking terrible pictures lately.
First look inside the box. Excitement.
First look under the pink tissue paper.
My eyes immediately went to the oh-so-cute mint green box to the right in the picture. I HAD to open it first. Inside was an awesome Wanderlust nail polish in Mod in Manhattan color. It's a fleshy white color. I love it. And you can find the whole set here. Only $8 for four awesome colors. I may just have to buy that!
Also in the cute box was a Twistband nautical hair tie. LOVE. I've been seeing these around lately and have been wanting to try one!
Next is a sample of Juicy Couture La La perfume. I have a bottle of Viva la Juicy and I love it. This isn't my favorite but I will definitely use up the sample. I love perfume and can't seem to get enough so this is a welcomed addiction to the collection!
So this Amika obliphica (huh?) nourishing mask seems awesome and it promises to deeply condition and repair hair. My hair needs help so I'll be using this immediately.
I seem to be getting a lot of eye liners in boxes lately. So, I've started to wear eye liner. And I like it. I used to be scared of it, but turns out it's really fun to play around with. I use just a tiny bit, though. I wasn't' super surprised to see this Eyeko skinny liquid eyeliner in my box. I am glad this one is a liquid as I have yet to try a liquid liner. Tomorrow morning I'll be rocking this on my eyes at work.
It's HOT here in Idaho right now. And I do mean hot. Too hot. I hate it. We play at the lake almost daily here, so this Coola classic face SPF 30 cucumber moisturizer will be put into my bag pronto. And I'm really intrigued about the cucumber-ness of it. Can't wait to try!
I also got this fun set of postcards. The front says Destination Inspiration and there are five postcards attached in an accordion style. How darling are these things? I have relatives all over the place and I haven't sent a postcard in ages so this will be fun. I will probably give one to the girls to send to a friend also.
Here's another (bad) picture of the loot.
It's my understanding that Bichbox has lots (30?) of different boxes so it's fun to see what everyone got. Did you get a birchbox? What was in it? What was your favorite item??
Advocare Day 1!
Today's gonna be rough.
After a week-long vacation and eating frenzy, I am starting the Advocare 24-Day Challenge today. It's a 24-day challenge (duh) where you eat "clean" and take the Advocare provided supplements and things. The whole package arrived a week before I went on vacation and it's just been sitting in my dining room waiting for me. There's quite a few items in the box and there's a handy little schedule that outlines exactly when to take what.
The first 10 days is the cleanse phase and in addiction to eating clean, I will be taking the Advocare fiber drink (which I hear is quite nasty....I'm about to have my first one after I write this post, so I'll give you my opinion of this drink shortly), the ever-so-popular Spark energy drink that all the cool kids are drinking these days. And I have been using this product for the past week or so and I do LOVE it. Love it. It gives me great energy and it has helped me kick the coffee habit (well, let's get real, today is my first day without any coffee but I have been weaning off all week and I've had no problem. And I've been addicted to coffee for YEARS). Another product I'll be taking throughout the 24 days is Omegaplex which is a high quality Omega 3 fatty acid supplement, and the Herbal Cleanse caplets will be taken during the first 10 days also. I will give a break down of all the above products when I have a bit more time :)
My meal plan for the day will include:
Breakfast: eggs, 1/2 Thomas Light English muffin, kiwi fruit
Snack: Spark drink, plum and a few almonds
Lunch: Tuna salad on whole wheat sandwich thin, veggies
Snack: banana
Dinner: Turkey patty, sweet potato, chopped salad (yum!)
That's the plan anyway. I was an idiot and didn't prepare last night (I know, I know!) so I will need ot spend a few minutes this morning preparing my meals for while I'm at work. Not a good way to start off....I'll get into the swing of things. I will!
And hopefully some time this afternoon/night or tomorrow I'll get my reviews up for the boxes I got in the mail while I was gone. I got my very first Birchbox! So exciting. And my first KlutchClub
also arrived. I ordered Klutchclub a couple weeks ago when Plum District was having a special so I got it at a super good price. I also got my first Goodies box and my Julep warehouse order arrived! Yay! Let me tell you, I LOVE getting packages in the mail! And having 4 on Saturday when we got home thrilled me to death.
After a week-long vacation and eating frenzy, I am starting the Advocare 24-Day Challenge today. It's a 24-day challenge (duh) where you eat "clean" and take the Advocare provided supplements and things. The whole package arrived a week before I went on vacation and it's just been sitting in my dining room waiting for me. There's quite a few items in the box and there's a handy little schedule that outlines exactly when to take what.
The first 10 days is the cleanse phase and in addiction to eating clean, I will be taking the Advocare fiber drink (which I hear is quite nasty....I'm about to have my first one after I write this post, so I'll give you my opinion of this drink shortly), the ever-so-popular Spark energy drink that all the cool kids are drinking these days. And I have been using this product for the past week or so and I do LOVE it. Love it. It gives me great energy and it has helped me kick the coffee habit (well, let's get real, today is my first day without any coffee but I have been weaning off all week and I've had no problem. And I've been addicted to coffee for YEARS). Another product I'll be taking throughout the 24 days is Omegaplex which is a high quality Omega 3 fatty acid supplement, and the Herbal Cleanse caplets will be taken during the first 10 days also. I will give a break down of all the above products when I have a bit more time :)
My meal plan for the day will include:
Breakfast: eggs, 1/2 Thomas Light English muffin, kiwi fruit
Snack: Spark drink, plum and a few almonds
Lunch: Tuna salad on whole wheat sandwich thin, veggies
Snack: banana
Dinner: Turkey patty, sweet potato, chopped salad (yum!)
That's the plan anyway. I was an idiot and didn't prepare last night (I know, I know!) so I will need ot spend a few minutes this morning preparing my meals for while I'm at work. Not a good way to start off....I'll get into the swing of things. I will!
And hopefully some time this afternoon/night or tomorrow I'll get my reviews up for the boxes I got in the mail while I was gone. I got my very first Birchbox! So exciting. And my first KlutchClub
also arrived. I ordered Klutchclub a couple weeks ago when Plum District was having a special so I got it at a super good price. I also got my first Goodies box and my Julep warehouse order arrived! Yay! Let me tell you, I LOVE getting packages in the mail! And having 4 on Saturday when we got home thrilled me to death.
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