Happy New Year, New ME Resolution. . .Easy!?!?

Well, this is my first year making REAL New Year Resolutions and my blog will show my progress. Did you know that 4/5 people will drop their NYR's by the end of January? Good Morning America said 90% can't do it. . . . I am not 90%! My hopes for 2011? Well, um . . . first my relationships with friends & family to grow stronger, to be happy with my helth & fitness routine, and to spend more time with my kids (that means off my Blackberry & off my laptop)! Yeah, I love it.

Today, I started my day at 7:15am with a Mandarin Orange Spark, 3 Catalyst & my MNSMax 3 Yellow packet! I'm putting the best into my body so I get the best out of my body! Then I'm going to really enjoy my Vanilla Meal Replacement Shake! One of former co-workers, who turned stay-at-home-mom, started her AdvoCare journey on January 1.

Her comment about the shake, "I've tried my fair share of shakes before & most taste really nasty, but this one literally tastes like vanilla cake batter! It is DELICIOUS!!!"

I have to admit, it's been a while since I've had the Vanilla. I'm really into the Chocolate! Giving the Vanilla a whirl in a few! Now to get ready to teach my first Pilates session of 2011! Whoo-hoo!!

Day 3 of Advocare Herbal Cleanse (Part 4)

Woke up better than I have in weeks! Ready to get mov'n on lots of things today, like getting ready for Thanksgiving meals, organizing winter clothes, and volunteer work. Got lots of positive things happening right now and want to ride this wave of energy and momentum! Whoo - hoo!!!!

Day 2 of Advocare Herbal Cleanse (Part 4)

First, it's Day 2 and I feel great ths morning. . . . my body is lov'n this Cleanse and all of the AdvoCare. So what if after my first cleanse (in February) and completion of the 24 day Challenge, I became a Distributor. It made sense to save 20% off on the products and get the kit, that had $50 worth of SLAM & SPARK (which are awesome) for just $79. And so what if I shared this stuff with my friends, family and students who asked me frequently about my opinion & recommendations for developing more LEAN muscle MASS and burning the hard to melt-away fat. It was all Pilates, and taking care of what I ate and how I ate, but not realizing it until AdvoCare appeared. I was skeptical at first, like everyone is because there is so much out there. AdvoCare works! AdvoCare is not expensive, an unhealthy lifestyle IS!

Day 1 of Advocare Herbal Cleanse (Part 4)

Today was the first day of my 4th round of the AdvoCare Herbal Cleanse. I must say that I've gotten pretty good at doing this. I've come a long way since February 14th when I did my first one. Sticking to and adapting to the program gets easier and easier every time! Spark, Catalyst and the Meal Replacement Shake routine is an everyday practice with the simple addition of the Fiber Drink and "clean" eating, it's just fantastic. I'm sure by tomorrow, I'll be at an amazing energy boost, as my body is quite used to the high-quality protein and amino acid. My energy is at an all-time high right now, but the feeling of being full is what is pretty exciting. Eating 3 regular meals, and 2 snacks, reduced calories due to the small portions & eating with more frequently is key. I really like all the choices and control I have over this process. Yeah more mid-day Day 1!

Pilates for Pink is here!

It's back and growing 4 years strong: Pilates for Pink is Thursday, October 21 at 7pm.

Please bring with you a min $10 donation in the form of a check or money order, or online receipt (@ http://www.bcrfcure.org/) via credit card made out to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Additional donations can be made for tickets ($5 e) for the prize pictured below. If you cannot atend you can still donate for this great cause to work your core for a cure for Breast Cancer.
Register by 7pm on Thursday! Donations will continue to be collected through October, for anyone who cannot attend class. Thank you for your participation for this wonderful cause!


THANK YOU so much to our BCA Grand Prize sponsors:
Pittsburgh Silver, http://www.pittsburghsilver.net/
Hal's Bar & Grill http://www.halsbar.com/
ToeSox, http://www.toesox.com/
Dr. Earl Grey, Unify Your Mind http://www.unifyyourmind.com/
Up Stretch Pilates Studio, http://www.upstretchpilates.com/
Estee Lauder Co., Inc, http://www.esteelauder.com/
Zobha, http://www.zobha.com/ (BCA "Hope" tank, not shown)
AdvoCare Spark, www.advocare.com/10021396

Day 4 of Cleanse (take 3)

Great morning, today! It's my 10th wedding Anniversary. No fear or stress about eating changes because the cleanse has helped me make smart decisions, healthy decisions without feeling deprived or hungry. I'm so lucky to have a supportive family, great friends and beautiful children.

Easy day this morning, Mandarin Orange SPARK, the Herbal Cleanse ProBiotic Restore Ultra, and soon my Meal Replacement Shake in Berry! Yummie!

Day 3 of Advocare Herbal Cleanse (take 3)

SO enjoying my evening snack I made with natural peanut butter and AdvoCare Muscle Gain. ! Day 3 was great! I already feel so good, and there's more to do. I get a break from the Fiber Drink tomorrow morning and start my ProBiotic RESTORE Ultra. Everyone who has done the cleanse RAVES about how good/gentle our probiotics compared to others. It's because the live bacteria are not sitting on store shelves, in fluctuating temperatures,

Days 1 & 2 on the cleanse

Days 1 & 2 always feel the same for me. I follow the guides, check in with my sponsor, eat 3 meals + 2 snacks = 5, and get myself all psych-ed up for . . . crap! Really, that's what I'm cleansing for to get the traffic jam out of my body that's stopping the flow It's a strange surprise that I don't feel bloating, cramping, discomfort, etc. That it's so natural and unexpected.



The best part is the pampering I give myself when I'm cleaning. Isn't this how we should be treating our body anyway, as a temple? We are what we eat, right? Last night after I left Pilates sessions I was handed a piece of birthday cake. It didn't smell good to me; smelled way too sweet. My two little girls saw it and thought they wanted some, so I treated them both to a piece. They didn't even really eat it, more like played with it with their forks. They aren't used to putting that kind of unhealthy "crap" into their body, so they really had no taste for it. My cravings and desires for super sweets, salty or fried foods diminish each time I do this (btw, this is my third cleanse and I do it every 90 days).


I got to go home and make a beautiful chicken salad with fresh greens, cherry tomatos and sunflower seads (I like crunch and with no bread, I opted for nuts). My snacks were a handfull of almonds blueberies and slices strawberries, and I had hard boiled eggs sliced with salt, pepper and French's Yellow Mustard (I love that). I had Spark and Catalyst, too when I got really hungry and needed something because dinner was going to be late. It's really works to fill-in-the-gaps. I could have just eaten cake, junk laying around, or treated my body right! I choose to treat my body like a temple. If I treat it right, it'll treat me right!


Well Day 2 went very well. I really kicked ass in my step class tonight, then taught my Pilates class immediately after. Thank goodness for a cleanse that keeps me energized, eating and feeling strong because I'd never do this otherwise. I don't even think I'll be suffering too much muscle soreness tomorow because of all the good protein and amino acids in catalyst that protect and fuel my muscles.

I just realized something . . . my next cleanse will be right before Thanksgiving! I thought that might be bad timeing on my part until I thought. How fantastic?!?!? I won't over-eat or gain weight, plus that one day of overwating, extra calories may actually speed up my metabolism! Super-duper!

Herbal Cleanse - Pre-Day 1 (3rd cleanse)

Okay, so it's the day before Day 1! I'm so excited to "cleanse". Funky, huh? Well, I just know I'm gonna feel sooooo good when I'm done. I may drop 2-3lbs, but I'm not after weight loss or vanity on this, I just wanna feel awesome! It's like hitting the "Reset" button and getting super charged with electricity when the plug in the outlet is just "BLAH". I have a great week coming up, too! It's my 10th wedding ANNIVERSARY! I'm not letting celebration stop me either, 'cause there will always be "something". I've heard sooo many excuses not to cleanse because of picnics, graduations, birthday's, this and that, well guess what? There will always be excuses to NOT do something. Put your heart into it, saddle up and get it done. I feel a thousand times better after I've finished something and gave it my all. Same thing here with nutrition. If we ate perfectly ALL THE TIME we wouldn't have to subject ourselves to cleanses, supplements, prescription medications, medical conditions, health insurance issues, etc.

I just heard on the radio that 9 states have recorded over 30% of their populations as being obese! We are a desperate country in desperate times, taking it out on ourselves and causing our health to decline, too! Yes, we are in a financial and health crisis! I'm happy to report that I'm doing something about both. I can attest that I am making money and using AdvoCare to improve my health and finances. Shouldn't you? I mean, shouldn't we all take a good look at where you put your dollar and what you put into your mouth?

$1 - McDonald's Sweet Tea (230 Calories) vs. $.74 Fruit Punch Rehydrate (50 Calories)
$3.29 McDonald's Egg McMuffin (300 Calories) vs. $2.85 Chocolate Meal Replacement Shake (220 Calories)

AdvoCare just saved you $.70/breakfast per day and an extra 255 Calories. Enough said.

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

HEALTHY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
1 (17.5 oz.) package chocolate chip cookie mix
1/2 cup margarine, soft
1 egg
2 tablespoons water
1 (2.08 oz.) package AdvoCare Vanilla Meal Replacement Shake powder

Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl. Beat well until soft dough forms. Drop by teaspoons two inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake according to cookie package directions. Makes 36 cookies.

Nutrition Information per Two Cookies

Calories 182
Protein 2.5 g
Carbohydrates 22.0 g
Dietary Fiber 2.0 g
Sugar 12.0 g
Fat 3.5 g
Sodium 104.0 mg

Creamsicle French Soda Recipe

Creamsicle French Soda Recipe

AdvoCare® V16® Energy Drink pouch
Half & Half
Ice Cubes

Mix the contents of one V16 Energy Drink pouch into 6oz of water. Stir and allow to fizz. Add 1 tbsp Half & Half and ice cubes.

Enjoy!!

Cleanse Contest
Will you join me when I start my 3rd Herbal Cleanse on 8/16 just in time for Back-to-School? Feel great inside-out. You may win a box of Spark!

7pm- decided I was tired of feeling tired
7:05- fixed myself a glass of Orange Spark
7:25- feeling amazing right now; alert, focused & enjoying the evening

OMG O2 Gold! I *Heart* You!

When my journey in AdvoCare began mid-February, I had no idea how good I could feel striding on the Elliptical. Two toddlers, my own Pilates studio & household to manage - cardio was the last thing on my mind. I think that's why I needed AdvoCare in my life. I couldn't even imagine cardio because I was exausted watching the members of my gym on the machine! After a few days on Spark and Catalyst, I was spirited enough to give it a shot. Day 1 was a few minutes, watching how many calories burned, my level, my heart rate, The Ellen DeGeneres Show on the TV above. . . Day 24 was a was like a whole new ME. Seriously competing against myself, how many calories more can a burn in a shorter time than the day before, and using my core Pilates muscles "in and up" so I protect my back when I boosted from Level 4 to 8. It was fun until my ribs cramped and I felt like I couldn't breath!!!!!Then something AMAZING happened! I ordered a bottle of O2 Gold!!!
O2 Gold made me feel like my 4 year old daughter in tumbling class, an Energizer Bunny! My iPod was loaded with an hour of heart-pumping, leg-striding beats that haven't been played because after 15-20 minutes a shot, I'd be gasping like a fish out of water. This "third lung" plugged me into a whole new KEEP GOING "me" that lasted me 55 minutes at Level 7 (I could have gone longer, but my 19 month old needed a diaper change).
I'm love'n my O2 Gold, so if you like walking, cardio classes, or cardio machines to help you melt the fat with the rest of AdvoCare's success sytem of products - add O2 Gold, you'll be running the next marathon, 5K, 10K, etc.

The results speak for themselves . . . .

Oh yeah . . . 10 weeks ago, I would be squeezing myself into these shorts (Size 12), like last year wondering if I should just resort to buying a larger size. I was struggling with energy, ignoring my healthy eating knowledge, and feeling like I wasn't accomplishing everything I could day to day. I had been doing was body into "fat storage" mode instead of "fat burn" to regain the body I was meant to have was make the commitment to eat better, live healthier, have more "me time" and challenge myself for 24 days.

It began with a friend telling me about the "gentle & uneventful" Herbal Cleanse, and guiding me through the 24-Days to Fit Challenge. It was easy, tasty (the chocolate Meal Replacement Shakes for breakfast were awesome) and I melted 4 lbs away in the first 10 days. With the addition of my new found ENERGY from Spark and Catalyst the body fat continued to fall off around my muscles as I had mental focus to improve my schedule to allow for more personal workout time between my Pilates lessons. I continue to feel awesome, have TONS of ENERGY, and except for a few stretch-marks, there is no sign that my body had 2 babies within a 3 year time-span. I'm healthy, feel fitter than ever and more motivated teaching Pilates classes & lessons day after day and make time to get myself time to workout, chill-out, whatever.

This program has taught me how to eat right, enjoy a variety of foods that satisfy my body & lifestyle (without going hungry, since I love to eat) and the easy-to-follow directions & team support enabled me to get better than expected results. I liked the program so much that in March I became an AdvoCare distributor to help others on their personal journey to feeling healthy, happy, lose weight and have more energy, too. Let me know how much more you would like to get out of your life and I can start you on your personal journey to results.

{The 24-day challenge made me re-think about how I've been caring for my family's meal and snack needs. We now eat whole fruits, steamed veggies, lots of protein like chicken, lean beef and fish, whole-grains, drink tons of water, limited low-sugar juices (for the kids) & lots of Spark and Rehydrate for Mom & Dad!!! }