Just because I haven't updated my Blog doesn't mean I haven't stayed committed to the 24-Day Challenge! I'm 14 days in and feeling better than ever. On the 9th day, the day before my last day of the cleanse, Casie (my trainer and adviser through all of this) measured me and I've lost 1.5 inches in my waist, an inch in my thighs and inch in my hips! Wahoo! At that point, I'd actually gained a pound but it must be muscle since I've lost some inches.
I've noticed I'm not quite as "soft" as before and I've also seen some non-weight related differences in myself, too. Anyone who knows me well knows I turn into a dinosaur that can only be tamed with food the instant my "shakes" hit. This is something I inherited from my mother and can be quite embarrassing at times. I used to not take care of myself and my eating habits were out of control. It was no big deal for me to eat a pack of Zours (my favorite candy) and a Dr. Pepper for breakfast. THEN, the shakes would strike before lunch and I'd have to make a run to the vending machine for another dose of equally unhealthy potato chips.
I was nervous about starting this challenge because the thought of supplements and a chocolate meal replacement shake made me think I'd for sure suffer the hypoglycemic attacks I have become accustomed to; however, the opposite has been true. In 14 days, I haven't gotten the shakes once! And when I get hungry, I just get hungry. Not shaky, irritable and anxious. I don't think I've ever gone two weeks without getting the shakes. And I KNOW I've never gone 2 weeks without any sodas or coffee! Really proud of myself for that one.
The SPARK powder that mixes with water to create an energizing, healthy drink has kept me from needing a caffeine fix everyday. I used to get headaches every other day and I've only had ONE headache this whole time. And it stemmed from forgetting to eat on a long day of travel. After eating a banana and a rice cake, my headache went away!
I've also noticed that my skin has cleared up. My face hasn't broken out and the rest of my skin feels softer. I think it's because of the Omegaplex vitamins I take with dinner every night. They're filled with fish oils and other good things :)
My diet is filled with lean meats, lots of fruits and lots of veggies. I try to stay away from preservatives and eat as much "real" foods as possible. I'm actually eating more food than I normally do but that is important so your body doesn't go into starvation mode and store all your fats.
I haven't worked out as much as I should. I train with Casie two mornings a week for 30 minutes and I try to go to the gym on my own about every other day but sometimes I get lazy. Pure Barre has finally opened in Montgomery so I'm excited about adding that to my healthy kick. I'm definitely in the transformation stage and I know that I only get out of it what I put into it so I'm gonna step it up. More workouts and less "cheating" at meals!
