Before & After Success Story (Nikki)

Hi all!  Today, I'm introducing you to Nikki (Hello Stripes) and sharing her weight-loss success story.  I hope you are inspired! Thanks so much Nikki- you look amazing!

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So, I've been on my Advocare journey (more about what Advocare is at the end of this post) for 14 or so weeks now (I say journey because I don't see it ever ending). 
Here I was post baby no. 2 (October 1, 2012 - he was 6 months - note: I gained the majority of my weight after baby. Yay!) at around 180# and 25.5% body fat. I was drinking a bottle of wine a day (no joke, I had it with breakfast - that's what they do on RHONJ, right?) and as it turns out, that was adding up to a whole lotta calories. I woke up one day and decided this is not cool. I was sick of my thighs rubbing together and this bat wing thing happening on my arms - I had no energy and even less self-confidence.

So, by complete kismet, I found my now dear, dear friend Danielle and long story short, started Advocare right away. And here I am now (January 23, 2013) at 159# somewhere around 18% body fat. Update: As of March 17, 2013 I am at 155# and 15% body fat and I have triceps and calves for the first time in as long as I can remember.

I followed Honey We're Healthy and was so inspired by Megan. She works, has an adorable little boy, a house that's to die forand was still able to live a healthy life style. I figured if she could do it, so could I.  I followed Megan's lead and started (and finished!)Jamie Eason's 12-week LiveFit program and LOVED it, but then read Jenna's story and decided to take the plunge and start CrossFit. Advocare also has a killer DVD with 24 minute workouts. It's great for super busy people who can't necessarily commit to the gym everyday, but still want to get fit. CrossFit and Advocare have taught me so much. I know it sounds silly, but I am a better mother, wife, friend and person because of them. I've gained so much confidence (and energy!).

What is Advocare, you ask? It is so many things to me, but basically, it's a comprehensive line of nutritionally advanced supplements that SUPPLEMENT your diet and exercise program(s). It's not magic in a pill, it's elite nutrition and really, it's notjust supplements, it's a lifestyle. A lifestyle I wanted, but didn't know where to start. I was in a place where I think a lot of people are "I want to get healthy but don't know how. Just show/tell me what to do and I'll do it". Advocare also has a TON of big name, unpaid endorsers and a solution for everyone, be it a stay-at-home mom or an NFL player. 

Advocare has taught me that nothing worth having comes easy and it doesn't happen overnight. It gave me the support and motivation to keep going when the going got tough (and believe me, it did) and just take it day by day. 

The 24-Day Challenge is the core of the line and it's meant to kickstart your weight loss or break through plateaus. You can read more about that here. And although weight loss is often a result, the whole goal of the Challenge, and all of Advocare really, is health and nutrition. 

So, here's what my day looks like - I'm still nursing baby no. 2 so, I have to do a modified routine. I think it's taken me longer to get results than most people, but I am just thankful that these particular Advocare products are safe for pregnant/breastfeeding mom's. Pretty awesome.

Supplements:

SPARK (oh how I love thee)

Probiotic Restore ULTRA

OmegaPlex - Dr. Oz endorsed

CorePlex w/ Iron

Catalyst (I HIGHLY recommend if it's tone/definition you're after)

Meal Replacement Shakes

Post-Workout Recovery (like a little treat. SO good)

Muscle Gain

Rehydrate (only if I have a super hard/long workout)

And here's what my usual daily diet looks like. I don't advocate cutting out any food groups (Atkins-type 'diets') but, I will say that I have cut out gluten (about 98% of the time) and diary (with the exception of the whey protein in some of my Advocare products) and have never felt better. 

Diet:

Upon waking:

Spark + Catalyst +  OmegaPlex

30 - 45 minutes later:

Meal Replacement Shake (on workout days) OR scrambled egg whites with avocado and sriracha and (2) slices of Udi's Whole Grain Gluten Free Bread toasted

After workout:

Post Workout Recovery Shake 

Mid-morning snack (on off days):

Apple with handful of almonds OR banana with almond butter OR Tuna Salad 

Lunch:

Savory Stuffed Sweet Potato

I hold the dairy products and add avocado and sriracha (hmmm...I'm seeing a trend here)

I also use a TON of Megan's recipes. This is one of my absolute favorites right now. 

Mid-afternoon snack:

Spark

Turkey Muffins OR Protein Bars

Dinner:

Here's where it gets tricky. My husband is a meat and potatoes kind of guy so, I've had to figure out meals that will please us both. I've got some tricks up my sleeve (I've managed to go gluten free without him knowing...)

Again, I use a lot of Megan's recipes and I have a lot pinned to my Clean Eating board that I pull from. 

I basically follow the equation (? is that what you call it? It's been a long time since algebra)

Protein + Vegetable + Complex Carb

Before Bed:

Muscle Gain + CorePlex + OmegaPlex

I won't go on and on about every dish or ingredient but please email me if you'd like me to send you a list.

It's easy once you get into a routine. I think that's one of the many benefits of the 24-Day Challenge, it's short enough that it doesn't overwhelm you but, long enough to get results, break bad habits and build a new routine. 

I have learned that it's so important to set goals for yourself and BE PATIENT! It won't happen overnight, but I promise if you stick to it - it will happen.

 Healthy living is only sustainable when you are intentional about it. It also really helps to have a support system and/or accountability partner. All of this has really helped me 're-calibrate'. I no longer consume an entire bottle of wine, a glass is almost too much. I now eat to perform. I eat what makes me feel good. I eat for nutrition. 

That's not to say I don't have my splurges, I do - I actually think that allowing yourself that actually helps you stay on track and in it for the long haul. 

I truly hope that my journey inspires you in some way to start your own if you haven't already. If I can do this with two wild boys (2.5 and 10 months), you can do it too...promise :)

I want to sincerely thank Megan and Danielle for inspiring and supporting me.

Please feel free to comment or contact me with any questions! I'd love to help you with your health and fitness goals too :) If I can do it, you can do it! It's all about doing something you never thought you possibly could.

Workout Binder (Workouts Post 12-Week Program)

Now that I've completed the Jamie Eason 12-Week Training Program, I needed to figure out what to do next.  The last couple of weeks I slacked off on my workouts, so time to get back to it!  I want to continue the strength training (especially on my legs/glutes) and picked a few of my favorite workouts from the Jamie Eason program and will continue to do those to build muscle.  I think they are all from Week 7 of the program.  I'm also looking forward to trying the spin classes at my gym, and now that the weather is warming up here, I'm going to start jogging outside again.

I went ahead and printed the workouts (Arms, Back, Shoulders, and two Leg workouts), wrote in the weight I typically lift for easy reference, them laminated them so I can use them while I work out.  I could commit them to memory, but this is easy and mindless so I don't have to think about what comes next.  

I have printed out all of the workouts from the 12-week program and keep them in a binder, along with my measurements so I can track my progress.  The binder is just an inexpensive 1-inch white three-ring binder with a plastic cover, so I inserted something to motivate me on the front. 

I love the shot of this strong woman climber and the quote that accompanies it.  

And on the back, I included a shot of a muscular and feminine physique I admire.  That booty- dang! 

Those pages are from Oxygen magazine.  The binder lives in my workout bag along with my mini i-Pod, workout gloves, and water bottle.  

How do you keep track of your workouts?

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spin class

running

Healthy Granola Bites

Hi, lovely readers!  It’s Jennifer from The Chronicles of Home and I’ve got another healthy little treat for you today.  I started making these granola bites a few weeks ago as a way to satisfy my daughters’ late afternoon snack attack without ruining their appetites for dinner.  And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t dip my hand into the bowl a lot of days, myself!  

They taste like a cross between granola and cookie dough and my girls would probably put down the entire batch of them if I didn’t limit them to 2 or 3 at a time.  They’re really filling and satisfying and full of healthy ingredients, so a perfect snack or even breakfast on-the-go if you’re really strapped for time, though we haven’t taken it there ourselves yet.

I like to make these in the food processor because it makes it that much quicker, and I like to have some of the raisins and chocolate chips chopped up into smaller bits.

The “dough” can be both a little crumbly and stick to your hands (seems like those two wouldn’t go together, doesn’t it?).  I didn’t really roll them into balls as much as press them into balls by squeezing back and forth between my hands and shaping into balls.  When they started to stick to my hands, I’d give a quick rinse to get off any sticky bits and then start again with damp hands.  I had to do this maybe twice during the making of them.

I store the granola bites in the fridge to keep them really fresh, though they might do fine at room temperature as well, but I can’t say how they hold up on the counter since I’ve always put mine in the fridge.

Hope you (and your kids) enjoy!

Granola Bites

Ingredients

1 c. oats

3/4 c. unsweetened shredded coconut

1/2 c. raw almond butter

3 tbsp. flax seed meal

1 tbsp. chia seeds

1/4 c. semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 c. raisins

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 c. light agave nectar

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until well mixed.

Scoop tablespoons into your hands and shape into balls.

Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Thank you for this post from contributing writer, Jennifer, of The Chronicles of Home.  You'll definitely want to check out her blog for more amazing recipes, beautiful home decor, and easy-to-follw DIY projects!

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

Are you in the mood for a hearty salad?  I found this mediterranean chickpea salad recipe in Barefoot Contessa's latest cookbook, Foolproof and enjoyed it all last week!  It's healthy, delicious, colorful, and very fast to assemble.

Dice a couple of tomatoes, a cucumber, scallions, and add some chopped basil.

Drain and rinse a can of chickpeas.

For the dressing, you add lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil and whisk to combine. 

Toss it all together. 

Then add feta cheese.

For a hearty accompaniment, I baked two pita bread slices at 350 for about 10 minutes.  A touch of olive oil and they're good to go! 

I couldn't get enough of this salad.  Hope you like it! 

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Quick Morning Oatmeal

Busy mornings are typical in most families and ours is no exception.  I'm a coffee-first-thing-in-the-morning kind of gal, but I also never go without breakfast.  A super quick and healthy breakfast is oatmeal.  Some mornings go so fast, I put my oatmeal in a cup and eat it in the car- shhhh!

My oatmeal is simple, just oats, sliced almonds, raisins, cinnamon, and topped with a little skim milk.

I toast the almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for a few minutes to make them more flavorful and crunchy.  Watch them closely though- they can burn easily. 

Then I combine all the ingredients in a large canister and give it a good shake.

I keep a plastic scoop in the canister for easy scooping. 

And the whole mixture sits on the counter next to my coffee. 

You can also portion the dry oatmeal mix into 5 small plastic baggies and take them to work to eat in the office in the morning if you don't want to eat in the car! 

I add water, microwave for one minute, then add a little milk.

What's your quick go-to breakfast?  I also like toast and natural peanut butter.

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Healthy Huevos Rancheros

Hi all!  Jennifer from The Chronicles of Home here, back with another healthy breakfast-for-dinner idea for you (remember that sweet potato hash from a little while back?).  This time it's Healthy Huevos Ranchos.

I actually had plans to make these huevos rancheros for breakfast last weekend on my husband Scott’s birthday.  Anytime we have breakfast out somewhere and huevos rancheros or some kind of breakfast burrito is on the menu, there’s a pretty good chance that’s what he orders.  So I wanted to make him something a little special for his birthday...but, wouldn’t you know, I came down with another bad cold.  And Scott wound up getting up with our daughters on his birthday morning so I could sleep in.  What a guy!

I decided to repurpose the huevos rancheros as dinner a few nights later instead and they were a perfect breakfast-for-dinner meal.  Hearty and filling and delicious!  As we were eating dinner I said, “This is what I’m going to send to Megan for my Honey We’re Healthy post this week.”  And Scott said, “These are healthy???”  Apparently they taste just indulgent enough to be sneaky-healthy!

A few notes on the ingredients.  You can use corn tortillas, which are the classic choice for huevos rancheros.  I used organic whole wheat because my store was out of corn the day I was shopping.  Refried beans can be quite good for you and also really not good for you.  Make sure you read your ingredients.  I used 365 Organic Refried Pinto Beans, which were high in protein and fiber, low in fat (1.5 g per 1/2 cup), and really flavorful.  If you like spice, a good splash of hot sauce on these would be great!

Healthy Huevos Rancheros - serves 6

Ingredients

2 tbsp. grapeseed oil, divided

1 medium yellow onion, diced

1/2 red pepper, diced

1/2 yellow pepper, diced

2 garlic cloves, crushed

2 large tomatoes, chopped (about 2 cups)

1 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. chicken broth

6 whole wheat flour tortillas

cooking spray

6 eggs

15-oz. can refried beans

2 avocados, large-diced

Preheat oven to 350º.

Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes.  Add red and yellow peppers and garlic and cook 2 minutes more.  Add tomatoes with their seeds and juices, cumin, and salt and cook until tomatoes start to break down, about 5 minutes.  Add chicken broth and increase heat to high to bring to a boil.  Lower heat and simmer uncovered until thickened, about 15 minutes.

Arrange tortillas in a single layer on two baking sheets.  Spray lightly with cooking spray.  Place in the oven until starting to puff, about 5 minutes.  Turn heat off and leave in oven to keep warm.

Heat remaining tbsp. of oil in a large nonstick skillet.  Crack the eggs into the hot oil and fry until whites are set, then flip carefully and remove from the heat.

Put the refried beans in a microwave safe bowl and microwave until warm, about 2 minutes.

Put one tortilla on each of 6 plates.  Spread with beans and top with an egg.  Spoon sauce around the egg and top with avocado.

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Thank you for this post from contributing writer, Jennifer, of The Chronicles of Home.  You'll definitely want to check out her blog for more amazing recipes, beautiful home decor, and easy-to-follw DIY projects!

Jamie Eason Live Fit 12-Week Trainer Completed (My 12 Week Recap)

Okay guys, I finally finished the Live Fit 12 Week Trainer and got a pic snapped!  The picture on the left is me at Week 2 and the picture on the right is a few weeks after I completed week 12.  The changes may appear subtle, but I can say I feel more toned and tighter overall, especially in my shoulders, abs, and legs.  There were many times during the program where I felt like "this is hard!" but I didn't ever want to give up because I knew the results would be worth it.  I also came to crave the workouts because they are such a big stress reliever in my life.  I cannot tell you how much better you will feel after a hard, sweaty workout if you are having a bad day, tough time, or just need time to yourself.  Fitting in those workouts is a challenge, but I did them before work, after work, during the day, and on weekends- whatever worked.

The 12-week program is broken into 3 phases, which I posted about in detail previously.  Click below to read more.  

Phase 1 (Weeks 1-4)

Phase 2 (Weeks 5-8)

Phase 3 (Weeks 9-12) 

This program really works- especially if you follow the food (5-6 small meals every 3-4 hours).  I followed it pretty closely until about week 10, then fell off in still eating pretty well, but not often enough.  

Because I started out in decent shape, I feel like I reached my goal during Phase 2, but I still wanted to complete what I started.  

Week 9

After having completed this 12-week program, I can say that it REALLY works.  I've worked out pretty consistently since my early twenties, but never put on muscle and leaned out like this because I didn't put the workouts, supplementation, and food all together for a set time period.  

You can read more specifically about what I ate on the program HERE.  

You can read about my progress week by week by going HERE.

If you follow the program, you WILL see results.  I would love to hear you story!  Please email me with your questions and I'll write a follow up post with my answers.  

Some people have asked what I plan to do now that I've completed the training program.  I have continued doing some of my favorite workouts from the program and tried Pilates for the first time last week and really liked it.  I plan to do more spinning and running outside too. 

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