Consistency

Staying Consistent

It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle.

It took me a LONG time to realize changing my appearance meant changing my habits.
A lot of people think Advocare, the 24 day challenge or the 10 day cleanse are quick fixes or fad diets.

Why should you try it? How is it different?

It's different because it's not a "diet." It's a tool to TEACH you what you need to do to make a difference in your health. I think of it as groundwork to a new, healthier, fulfilling lifestyle.

The pic on the right was taken the last week of November. No challenge, no cleanse. I've just been monitoring my macros and taking the Advocare supplements that work for me. .

The pic on the left is after my 24 day challenge in May of 2014. The middle pic is from July of 2015 when I finished my 10 day cleanse.

As you can see, my weight HAS NOT yo-yo'd. I didn't put everything I lost, and then some, back on. I stayed consistent! .

Advocare gave me the tools to make better choices and live a healthier lifestyle. Hence the reason I continue to use their products & why I am an adviser.

Why not try it? Why not give yourself a chance to make a change? You have nothing to lose but bad habits :) I made the choice to change & am so glad I did!

Click Here to read my weight loss story 

Workout :: Side Step Up & Squat Combo

A favorite glute move for those troublesome saddlebags that plaque women everwhere! Start slow and on a steady surface. We're using a bench with a soft cushion which requires balance. Once you get the movement down, add weights for an extra burn!

Keeping it Clean

Want to give the 10 Day Cleanse a try? Click here

 
This summer is like most summers, very humid and going by way too fast!
I love spending time outside going for walks, drinks, dinner, runs - you name it, I do it outside - weather permitting. 

Before and After - 10 Day Cleanse

While I don't think I have been slacking on my workouts, I am slightly more lenient on my diet.  It comes with the laid back attitude of summer. "What's one more drink?", "It's hot, I need that frozen yogurt!" It's easy to convince myself to enjoy the moment and not worry about the scale.

For the most part, that is how summer should be. It's how life should be, within reason of course.  As someone who has always struggled with her weight, I work on maintaining a balance for the sake of my sanity and waist line.

Gym Bag Staples

My Gym Bag Goodies

::Deodorant::
Let's start with the obvious, this should be a staple in everyone's gym bag. This should also be a staple in your desk and car. I've forgotten to put deodorant on enough times to realize I should never NOT have it on hand at all times.

::Brush::
For the times I shower at the gym or just need to brush my mane, this little guy has been with me since AT LEAST 2001. True story.  I have a massive amount of hair and this thing gets it done every time.

::Hair Tie::
Ever gotten to the gym only to realize you have no hair tie? Rubber bands are murder on your hair. No for real, it feels like my hair is being murdered when I have to take one out after a sweaty workout.  I also have these in my car. We can talk about what I don't have in my car in a later post.

::Smell Good::
On occasion I've met coworkers for drinks after the gym but before showering. Gross? I suppose. I can guarantee I still smelled better than most of the people I smell on a daily basis. I work in Manhattan, trust me on this.  Happy Hour waits for no workout, hence the deodorant and body spray. Get it now?

::Shower Flops::
My gym bag has a ventilated compartment for sneakers/flops/other smelly items you don't want in close proximity of your intimates. These are from one of the several weddings I've been in. They're very cushy and paired well with my black bridesmaid dress at the time. Now they live in my gym bag for the days I shower there.

::Lifting Gloves::
I feel a little silly when I wear these but they save my hands from gross callus'.  They also help me get a great grip while I'm trying to perfect my pull ups. I got these from TJ Maxx for a whole $7. 

::iPod Nano::
It's old school, with old school music. I don't think I've actually added any new music to it in about 2 and a half years.  I used to distance run a lot more so this thing is loaded with heart pumping musica to keep me going. There is also some terrible music on there and I live in fear I'll forget it one day where it will be found and laughed at. Worth noting, I also love the stop watch/timer feature on these.

::Face Wipes::
I love these. I've used several brands, I don't discriminate but this particular kind, alba, is dual sided.  One side is smooth for removal and the other side is slightly raised for exfoliation. It's gentle enough that it doesn't bother my skin while exfoliating. I wear face make-up daily, so aside from preventing breakouts, removing my makeup before a workout eliminates the embarrassing make-up marks on those pristine white gym towels. I found these at Target.

::Notebook & Pen::
I leave this in my bag for keeping track of my workouts. I don't track every workout, but there are days when I have a great workout and know I'll want to duplicate it in the future, so I write down what I did while it's still fresh in my mind.  It's great for the times I also take a killer class at the gym and know I'll want to try it again on my own.   

::Lock::
Locks are a must to keep your valuables safe and sound. When I say valuables, I mean dirty tupperware containers.  I like this one because it's a code I picked on my own and can easily change if need be. It's very user friendly and it doesn't require me to carry a gym key onto the gym floor. I used to work at a gym (which is where I got this one) and I've had to cut my fair share of locks off of members lockers because they lost the key or forgot the code. This lock eliminates all that fun stuff.