My Weight Loss Journey

1983

1994

Weight was not an issue for me during childhood or teen years. I was a dancer from the age of 3 to 15. I was a cheerleader throughout middle and junior high school. I can remember going to what was then Sullivan's Grocery and getting a king size Reese's peanut butter cup or Snickers and a 20 oz mountain dew for an after-noon snack. I never had to "watch" what I ate or purposefully exercise. As a teen I stayed between a size 4 and 6. I am 5'8" tall so that is very thin. I was tall and lanky. The pair of shorts I wore on mine and Chad's first date were denim shorts from American Eagle, size 4. My driver's license (that I still have in the attic) said 128 lbs. I did manage to change the weight one time in the past 18 years from 128 to 130. What, like your license says what you really weigh?

2000

1996

I did pick up a few pounds after marriage and during college, who doesn't? It actually made me look better and healthier. I only gained around 16 pounds with my first baby. I lost it almost immediately without even trying.  I worked at Curves for Women a fitness center for women only. I was in really good shape. Who wouldn't be working at a fitness center. I continued to eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I did continue to work out and maintained a healthy weight in my early 20’s. My sister-in-law and I would put my niece in a bouncy seat and she and my son would watch us do Tai-Bo almost every day. If there was a work-out video we did it. Buns of Steel, Thighs of Steel, Step-Aerobics. We even did sweating to the oldies with Richard Simmons, oh my. Can you say do the Jelly-Roll? I picked up a little more weight here and there  and ended up around 155-156 pounds. I fluctuated between 145-155 for several years. 

DECEMBER 2010

My struggle with health, weight, and blood pressure hit me at age 24 during pregnancy and after baby number two. I had gained around 60 pounds with my second pregnancy. Over the course of the next 7 years I continued to gain and live an unhealthy lifestyle. What happened? Where did all of this come from? How did this happen and wait a minute, when did I get to be in my 30's? Not just 30 but IN my 30's? At 31 years old I found myself at 235 pounds, struggling with high, uncontrolled blood pressure, and chronic sinus and allergy issues, which included three or four trips to the doctor a year. After looking at family Christmas photos in December of 2010 I decided that as of January 1, 2011 I would make a New Year’s resolution list. The two usual “lose weight” and “exercise” resolutions topped my list yet again, as they had many times before. I also vowed to give up Mountain Dew. Not diet, real mountain dew. I think that my entire family was more scared of me without mountain dew than any scary movie. I can remember saying if I can just get below 200. In May of 2011 I had a total hysterectomy and literally weighed 200 pounds the day I went in for surgery. I weighed because I was scared slap to death that I was going to gain back what I had so desperately worked to this point. I stressed over not being able to exercise for 5 weeks as well. Luckily, I only gained a couple pounds right after surgery and I was able to lose them fairly quickly. I focused solely on a number at that point. Throughout the course of 2011 I managed to lose 43 pounds. In November of 2011 I hit the 192 mark. In December of 2011 I hit a major plateau. It didn’t matter what I ate or didn’t eat, how many times a week or what exercise I did. I could run 3 miles a day and not lose a pound. I struggled all throughout January, February, and March 2012 just to maintain and not gain. I was extremely frustrated from losing all that weight, getting below that magic number, and still only dropping one clothing size. I did not realize this at the time but I lacked proper nutrition from the lack of calorie intake, and had shot my metabolism just from trying to get that scale to move. I had no energy, was disappointed, and aggravated. I mean I had given up Mountain Dew, what else did my body want from me! I had almost decided to just be “content” and “happy” with my weight and size due to my height and being comfortable.

First AdvoCare Mixer April 2012
Pam's Cousin Penny, Myself, My precious
friend Pam, and my friend and one of my
AdvoCare Advisors Jennifer.

After repeatedly saying no to my precious friend Pam about going to an AdvoCare mixer I reluctantly agreed to go. I will forever be grateful to her for continuing to beg me even after I said no. She knew what AdvoCare could help me do! I didn’t need “weight loss drugs” or “help”.  I know now that it was my lack of knowledge about AdvoCare and what it really is that had me saying those things. I had the opportunity to go to my now Advisor and friend, Jill Acosta’s house to hear Pam Rushmore talk about AdvoCare and what it had done for her. Jill served spark to all of her guests.  This is where my AdvoCare journey began, April 2012, sitting on Jill’s couch in a room full of people I began to become very attentive to what Pam was saying. It’s like someone turned a switch on in my mind. I was focused and alert. It was like things were brighter and clearer. I am not exaggerating. Jill says she will never forget the look on my face after my first spark. I stayed after the meeting to speak with Jill and Pam more about the business opportunity with AdvoCare. I mainly just knew that I didn’t want to take money from my family or personal finances to pay for the products but I knew I had to find a way to be a part of this amazing company and family. My husband and I decided that the best thing for me to do would be to sign up as a distributor to receive a discount and just see where it lead. That would get spark in my hands from the distributor kit and let me start telling my friends about it. I kept telling myself if I can just sell enough to get started I know the results will sell it for me. My biggest concern was diet coke. I had moved from Mountain Dew to Diet Coke. How in the world was I going to make it without it? One word. Spark! I lost two pounds the week I started spark. It gave me energy to workout and vitamins that my body had been lacking due to calorie restriction from dieting. I posted a comment about it on Facebook and people began to ask questions and want what I had. Jill offered support and believed in me as well and helped me get going on a cleanse. Within another week or so I had sold enough product to order the remainder of the products I needed for a whole 24-day challenge. 

April 2012

My first challenge began on April 28, 2012. I started out at 192 pounds. During my first challenge I lost 10 pounds, 15.5 total body inches, and one clothing size. Are you kidding me? It took me 12 months to lose one clothing size before and this happened in 24 days? I was ecstatic. I went on vacation to the beach a week later and wore a bikini for the first time in almost 10 years. I posted a before and after photo on Facebook and orders began to flow in. After the challenge I continued using MNS Max 3 and added Thermoplus and Catalyst to my daily regimen. I continued to lose another 3 pounds and 15 more inches. 

May 2012

I began a second 24-day challenge on July 30, 2012.  I proceeded to lose another 8 pounds and 10.5 total body inches. This challenge I dropped two more clothing sizes. Yes, I said two! I had now lost a total of 21 “AdvoCare Pounds” as I like to call them. School started back with busy schedules and football, which meant tailgating. I was scared of “falling off the wagon” but I continued to use the products and use the tools that AdvoCare provides to stay on track and focused. I didn't lose any more weight between this challenge and the next but I did maintain my weight and that was a first for me! 

August 2012

I began my third 24-Day Challenge on October 29, 2012. I lost 6 pounds and 8 inches.  Finally, after one year and 11 months on November 16, 2012 I hit the goal I had set for myself New Years day 2011, 165 pounds. It was at that point that a new goal was set. I realized that I didn’t have to settle for anything. I could in fact have a healthy body and achieve a fitness level that I had not been at since High School. I could have my body back. Throughout the rest of November and December 2012 I continued to exercise (not as frequently) but my eating habits were well let's just say "not on the plan". It was Christmas time and for my bunch that means 5 different family christmas gatherings, two office party's, and our wedding anniversary. I don't know about your family but my family can cook , and any event we have usually involves an assortment of fried chicken, red velvet cake, homemade macaroni, christmas candy, and dips..oh my word dips, I am a dipper...Mama's dressing, and green beans wrapped in bacon with brown sugar and butter, real butter melted and poured over the top. I don't mean drained I mean up in the bacon grease and butter. Okay wait,  I'm back lost my train of thought for a second. Now, don't get all upset. I am not saying that you should never have those things. I am also not saying I never have them. I love to eat and love good southern food. I am just saying in moderation. I however, did not consume them in moderation. Some how I did manage to just maintain my weight but inch wise things began to "move" back in the wrong direction...OUT! It was then I realized that maybe it really was not about a magic number on the scale. Maybe it was about wellness, nutrition, fitness, strength. All of those things began to be more important to me than fitting in skinny jeans. Skinny jeans were just a perk! 

January 2013/March 2013

So, I began my Can You 24 for 72 in 13 AdvoCare workout series on January 7, 2013. I also continued with MNS Max 3, Spark, Catalyst, Thermoplus and occasionally a meal replacement shake, Fibo-Trim, and Carb-Ease.
When I began the challenge I could barely do one what I call "real boy" push-ups. By the end I could do around 10 or more when pushing myself. I had a dear friend of mine say "Holy cow you have freakin Kelly Ripa arms." Now I didn't agree with her but that was so good to hear. The Can You 24 workout series really works all muscle groups and tones and tightens with no equipment. It is my most favorite workout series. I continued to lose another six pounds and 10 more inches. This put my “AdvoCare pounds” total loss at 33, weight 159, goal!

At this point all total I had lost 76 pounds and 6 clothing sizes, from an 18/20 to an 8. Remember that out of the 76 only 33 pounds were what I call "AdvoCare" pounds. Due to losing fat, and retaining and building lean muscle mass with AdvoCare products those pounds equaled over 40 body inches lost. YES, I said 40! I realized that at that point I was two clothing sizes smaller than I was when I weighed the exact same amount 10 years before. That to me was amazing. How do I know this? I pulled down my
box of "yeah right that will never happen again" clothes and tried them on! They were too big, mostly 10's and 12's and I was now in single digits!  More importantly, my blood pressure was now controlled I was able to drastically reduce my blood pressure medicine dosage. I had also not been to the doctor for my allergies or sinuses one time since beginning AdvoCare products.

Now what? I am a project person. I like to have a project going on. At this point "losing weight" and "getting fit" had been my projects for over two years. To be completely honest this scared me. In fact I told my sister-in-law it scared me. It scared me because I had worked for it so long I was scared of not working for it. Mistake number one! I am always, I repeat, always going to have to work for it. I am not just naturally skinny. I think that I somewhat sabotaged myself.

March 2013
Hollywood Wax Museum Fun.
First time I had posed for a pic in a long
time and didn't worry about checking
it first.

We went on vacation in March and I enjoyed myself, which was fine. Not a problem. I took a break from exercising and enjoyed some things I had not had in a while. When I got home was where mistake number two occurred. I continued not exercising, eating whatever, whenever. I started to gain. Saying the same old thing I had a couple years before "well, it's only 2 lbs", "I will start running again next week", "okay last pizza order before I get back on track".

That's Drew y'all! Please excuse the way
I look. I look like that because it
was 11:00 at night and we were about to fly
out on the red-eye. I didn't care, we were not
missing this opportunity! 

We also went to San Diego, CA. I will save those details for another post but since I am talking about AdvoCare I have to mention that we "ran into" Drew Brees in the airport on the way home. I mean how cool is that. We are huge Saints fans, and he is an AdvoCare endorser. Star-struck does not even begin to cover it!

May 2013
Shocco Springs
MPACT Youth Camp

We went to two church camps as chaperones, which was a workout in itself but you were so hungry you had to eat whatever they gave you! I paddle boarded for the first time. That was an amazing work out and I am so glad I was brave enough to try it! Loved it and went several times! Then we went to two separate conferences for work so you know "When in Rome", yeah not a good saying to go by.  Next thing I know it is 5 months later and I had put on way more than "just two pounds". I probably should not say this. In fact I know I shouldn't say this, but anyone that knows me knows that I am more than likely going to say it anyway. The truth shall set you free right? So here it goes, I gained 25 pounds! Yes, I said 25. I had gained back 25 pounds in 5 months what it had taken me the last 12 months to lose, that is almost half the time! Now let me say this. I still used AdvoCare products. I didn't however use them consistently or correctly which should tell you two things. Number one, it is not magic. AdvoCare is a wellness and nutrition company and far from hocus pocus. The products work, they do what they are designed to do when you do your part. Second, you have to do your part. I gained the weight because I quit living a healthy lifestyle not because AdvoCare didn't work. So, talk about a project, what a task I had created for myself. I guess I got my wish. I decided that no matter what was going on I would be starting a challenge on July 29th. Period. End of story. I knew it would be hard because school was about to start back and since I work in a school I knew the first week is almost torture. However, that was just another excuse, so I sucked it up and went for it.

July 2013
Weight 185

I started out back at 185. I was totally furious with myself. I wanted to just cry. I did. A couple times. The first few days were MISERABLE! I had gotten back into drinking diet coke pretty heavy and food had become a habit again. Amazing how quickly that happens! I was and still am extremely grateful for Spark. Without it I would not survive Diet Coke withdrawals. I guess around day 7 I started to get back in the groove of things. I tried so hard not to weight and become "scale dependent" again. I am currently on day 15. I have lost 12 pounds, yes I said 12. Ha. I weighed. Couldn't help myself. Woke up and felt different in my clothes again. I almost fell of the scale. Couldn't believe it. Now let me say this. I have been DILIGENT about sticking to the plan, exercising, drinking water, using products at the correct time, and resting as much as possible with my crazy schedule. No more stuffing into my clothes. Whew, I can breathe. Although I do not focus on the scale as much anymore I am more than happy to announce that I am only 14 lbs from my previous goal weight I had reached in March. I guess the biggest thing I have learned from this last little "bump" in the road is that it isn't about starting or stopping, and it isn't about finishing. It's about changing, forever. This section is to be continued in 9 more days....

August 2013
Weight 171

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!
Okay, (insert drum roll sound) final results for this last challenge was 14 pounds! Wooo hoo! In 24 days y'all! I am now only 11 pounds from the magical number of 159! Most importantly I feel better, stronger! I am ready to tackle that last 9 after I hit 159. A 24 day challenge really can help you "Tone Up & Lean Out"! My final goal weight is 150, and not just a regular 150. I mean a lean, mean, fit, AdvoCare Machine 150! I know I can do this! Keep checking my blog for updates on my progress! 

This was an "OOTD" Fashion File post on Instagram. I had to show you my back...A friend of mine on Facebook pointed out the other day that sometimes we focus so much on just getting the front to look the way we want that we forget about our back and shoulders. I hadn't thought of that until then. I would say AdvoCare is helping me all the way around! I don't want to be considered "skinny". I want to be considered fit and healthy!

HERE WE GO AGAIN...
Between my last challenge update in August  (above) and now I managed to do another challenge (Drop a pumpkin in October) and lose what I gained between above and then.

OCTOBER 2014

OCTOBER 2014

AND now fast forward through Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years to MARCH, 2014. Somehow I tricked myself into thinking that waiting until after my son's 16th birthday (which is January 30th but we had a surprise party and waited until February 15th) to start a challenge and that I would be "good between New Years day and then. Is anyone laughing out loud? I am. I had put back on 19 pounds, back to 196. Disappointed much? To say the least. After my last challenge I allowed Birthdays, Events, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years take control again. Why? I don't know. If I did I wouldn't be blogging about this journey. I would like to blame the new Palazzo style pants and printed leggings everyone is wearing. You know because they are "stretchy" like Nacho Libre's Super Hero outfit. I can't really put my finger on why but I have decided it is some form of the viscious cycle of self-sabotage. I am a project's person. I and again, I had gotten close to my project ending. That's where the old habits crept back in, where I lost my focus, where I was very wrong about the project that is my body ever ending while on this earth. I'm literally fighting with the same 20-30 pounds over and over again. The problem is each time I lose, I don't lose to where I was then I put back on. Which lead me to this...GUT CHECK, literally. NONE of my pants with buttons or zippers fit anymore. Seriously Kellie how in the world did you let this happen. I felt completely defeated and embarrassed. Now don't read that wrong. I wasn't embarrased because of the weight. I've told you before my weight, size etc. does not define who I am as a person. I was embarrassed because I felt like I had let so many people down. People that looked to me for encouragement, for inspiration, for products. Where was that girl up above that was motivated and excited? Insert Commercial: I will say this! My size 8's no longer fit, my size 10's looked like two pigs fighting under a blanket, but my few 12's I had hung on to fit. THANK GOODNESS. I am saying that because had I not remained on products I would have been back in a 16 as I was when I weighed this before AdvoCare...Talk about body science. That should be enough proof for anyone!

Kinda hard to ignore in black and white huh? I started this challenge on February 17, 2014. I threw out the last few bites of leftover birthday cake that had somehow made it through my ravenous binge on the Sunday night before. I started reading Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst. It is about satisfying our deepest desires with God, not food.  Talk about perfect timing. I plan to do a post dedicated solely to that study and process at a later date. What I can tell you now is to get it, read it, study it. It will make you dig deep and find things you didn't know existed. Sources of my struggle with food, and ultimately the remedy I know is found in Jesus Christ. Am I healed? Not exactly yet.

One positive note: I was able to pin "Silver" with AdvoCare and attend the first ever Leadership School thanks to my amazing team and upline. (You can read about that whole experience in a post on my home page.) I managed to maintain the "plan" while traveling which was a HUGE win for me!

At work one day while on this challenge I was telling, well whining about where I was a year ago and how hard it is to keep going. A precious young lady said to me "Mrs. Kellie If it was easy it wouldn't be worth it." ~ Megan Rae. Wise advise from an 18 year old. Love you sweet girl I will never forget that.

Sometimes we just need a reminder of where we were and how far we have come even if we haven't reached our final destination.

This challenge I worked really hard to make sure I worked out and took all my products correctly. I began running 3 times a week again in an effort to sign up for my first 5K in May and the Can You 24 level 2 workout series 2-3 times a week.  I added Leptilean to my regimen on the Max phase as well. I will add my final results here on day 25. I didn't measure and I sure didn't make ANY before and after photos. I really didn't want to know. Now, I could kick myself for not measuring. I know for a fact I have replaced fat with muscle, less jiggle. I am focused and back on a mission to "get it back".

My final results from this challenge that I finished on March 12, 2014: weight 188, total loss, 8 pounds. I have to be honest. I was a little disappointed...BUT I could definitely tell my body was changing somewhat. I think because I worked out like a mad woman. The scales not moving much are tolerable as long as things are shaping up well!

At this point I planned to start the Lean in 13 program by AdvoCare the following week in an effort to push myself back to where I was. It scared me a little, okay a lot because it is a very strict regimen.

I started the Lean in 13 program with AdvoCare on Saturday, March 22, 2014. I did manage to maintain the "CHALLENGE" diet during the 10 days between finishing the challenge and starting Lean in 13. Diet meaning the type of food I eat, not diet in the traditional sense of the word. I also had not had a diet coke in 34 days, yes I will take my medal now.  Water and Spark only. I was concerned that I would be in a total carb frenzy. The Lean in 13 program uses the zig zag method. Three day burn, one day refuel, three day burn, one day refuel. You can only have clean carbs (other than what is in the AdvoCare meal replacement shakes/protein shakes) on day 4, 8, and 12. WOW! I made it the first day just fine. I had an archery meet at my son's high school all morning and we fished with our kids all afternoon. Any other time I would have loaded up on chips, cookies, sodas, cheese, crackers, anyone else's mouth watering yet? I didn't though. I packed my products, my water, the snacks I could have and went about my day remembering I am working towards a goal that is more important to me than immediate satisfaction. Here is my before pic with measurements and weight. No judging. Clearly this is why I didn't take before and after pics of my most recent challenge. I will say this. Those jeans would not even come close enough together to button (size 8) at the beginning of this last challenge. Now they aren't presentable for public viewing BUT they were on, all up in them, but on. I think I stay on track much better when I measure, weigh, and make pictures, and share them with the entire universe. These were also the jeans I am wearing in the cute orange and mint leopard top up above so that tells you how far off the wagon I had fallen. So I am thinking this is the perfect way to show you what you can accomplish in 13 days with AdvoCare and to show you the JEANS DON'T LIE.  (YES I have my Luxy Hair Extensions in, something had to distract you from those rolls. I didn't want you to think there was some long crazy time lapse or something ha!)

GETTING BRAVE AGAIN HERE, AS MY COUSIN EMILY POSTED ON FB: 

"SHOW ME HOW BIG YOUR BRAVE IS".

FINAL RESULTS FOR LEAN IN 13

APRIL 2014

I finished my first Lean in 13 challenge on April 3, 2014 with a total loss of 6.4 pounds and 13.5 total body inches. Woo hoo! All I can say is Lean in 13 = Results! 

My plans are to do another Lean in 13 in May 2014. I will update this tab when I begin. Until that point my plan is to keep eating as clean as possible, continue using AdvoCare products, and stay on track with my workouts. Until then, STEP AWAY FROM THE REESE'S EGGS!

SUPPLEMENT INFORMATION:

When I am not "challenging" I use MNS Max 3, Thermoplus, Leptilean, Spark, Catalyst, and occasionally Fibo-Trim and Carb-Ease Plus. I incorporate AdvoCare meal replacement shakes, breakfast bars into my diet as well. I stick as closely to the meal suggestions and eating habits that AdvoCare provides us with as I can. I try to run/walk three times a week. I use the AdvoCare Can You 24 workout dvd's series 1 & 2, along with the Biggest Loser Bootcamp and 10 min abs, arms, lower-body and cardio. I also bike occasionally and lift small weights with high reps. With AdvoCare I feel more in control of what and how much I put into my body. Check out my AdvoCare Girl page for more detailed product info on my 24 Day Challenge regimen, Lean in 13 regimen, and other product info.

Since beginning my first challenge I have yet to pay for my personal products out of my family income. It has literally paid for itself.  AdvoCare has become a part of my life and home. It has given me the opportunity to meet and become friends with so many amazing people. I get emails and texts from people almost every day telling me that I inspire them. I love to share my story, not for compliments or self-gratification but for that very reason. That is also the reason for this blog. I have never shared "the whole story" in writing publicly until now. If I help even one person realize that they can do this too, then I have accomplished more than I could have ever hoped for. AdvoCare changed things for me and I will be forever grateful!

Speaking at my awesome team member Tara's Mixer. Use your hands much Kellie?

I have had the amazing opportunity to meet and listen to Pam Rushmore speak twice and her husband Mark once. They are true champions and I am so thankful for that opportunity! We are pictured here at a Mixer in Meridian, MS at the home of Dr. Joseph and Jill Acosta, whom I love very much! 

Monette, Jill, and I at Leadership School in Fort Worth, TX.

My sweet AdvoCare buddy Monet, Myself, and My
precious friend and Advisor Jill Acosta at Monette's mixer! 

AdvoCare booth at "Ham Jam" in Philadelphia
With Jill and my first Advisor on my AdvoCare team
and precious friend Stacey Thomas! Stacey is a rockstar and
has already accomplished so much with AdvoCare!