SHINING SILVER

During February I was able to "pin" Silver with AdvoCare. Reaching the silver level opened up a whole new window of opportunity for me. I need to say here that I reached this level because of the help of my Advisor Jill, my entire team, and two very special Advisors on my team, Stacey and Tara you guys rock!  Being at silver pin level during this time frame meant eligibility to go to AdvoCare's first ever Leadership School in Fort Worth, TX. I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew my Advisor Jill had been preaching, you gotta get to Success School, you gotta get to Success School. To be honest, I was still a little hesitant. I mean yeah, I wanted to go. Who wouldn't like to take a trip? But I didn't get it. Boy do I now. This post is about the trip, funny's along the way, what I ate while traveling and challenging. I am going to share alot of info. Not everything, I know this is me talking right? Seriously, some of the info I gained at Leadership School is for AdvoCare Leadership. You can be a part of it too, it's open to anyone. So, if you are that interested in what I don't say get plugged in today! Just keep reading....This is a long one so you might want to sit down.

WELCOME TO TEXAS
"WHERE EVERYTHING IS BIGGER...
BUT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE!"
#ADVOCARE ~ Chad Penson

Thursday was travel day. I was blessed enough to get to travel with Dr. A and Jill instead of having to drive myself. My friend (whom I met through AdvoCare) Monette was my back seat buddy. She is a new mommy and has a precious little "Advo Champion" baby boy. It was a full 8 hour drive. I was a little worried about food. Ha, that's typical me isn't it? I was on day 11 of the AdvoCare 24 day challenge the day we left. We stopped at Wendy's. I ordered Chili and a side salad with against my better judgment pomegranate vinaigrette dressing. I tried yall honest I did. I would rather eat dry plain lettuce than that stuff! So I got a pack of the light lemon Cesar (I know no cream based but I couldn't help it) and only occasionally dipped my fork in it. We stopped at the Texas welcome center and I let Chad know where we were. He sent me a funny text (see the pic with his quote underneath).

Each day I was gone I maintained my product regimen of MNS MAX 3, Catalyst, Spark, Thermoplus, Leptilean, and Carb-Ease. Sounds like alot, but it's nothing to handle for me. I have a tiny tackle box that organizes it all very nicely and fits in my purse.

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On the way Jill gave me a special journal to take notes in. This journal is the first of many that I hope to collect over the years with AdvoCare. For training calls, Success Schools, and meetings. One day I will be able to look back through them and read all about my AdvoCare journey...Where I started and how far I know I am going to go.

Dallas Skyline...just because it was stunning!

Side note to keep in mind for this segment: I get car sick, I read two chapters of my Made to Crave book, got dizzy put it down and ate a snack. The snack was Jiff natural peanut butter to go packs, they were a perfect portion controlled traveling companion snack. We arrived in Fort Worth around 8:00 p.m. and at that point we were all starving!

We ate at Chipotle Grill. If you have never eaten there I highly recommend it. It was delicious. I ordered the bowl instead of the burrito. Then you build your own. Brown rice, black beans, grilled chicken, pi co de galo, and fresh guacamole. It was divine! We then went to the hotel. While checking in I felt like I was going to hit the floor. So picture this in your mind...me in a strange hotel in Texas feeling fainty, sweaty, and clueless as to where the restroom was. I got the room key from Monette and all but broke and ran for the elevator. I like to have lost it in the elevator. Like literally lost it. I went to fourth floor because I only had the key, not the sleeve with the room number (that should tell you how frantically I had to get out of there) and couldn't remember what floor the key sleeve had written on it. Ran to the door thinking please Kellie do not throw up in this elevator. Oh thank goodness there's the door. Insert key...Red light. Insert key...red light. Oh you have, insert key...red light got tot be kidding me. Carpet on the floors, I'm gonna be sick, insert key....red light. The only thing I could think was maybe it said third floor. I knew I could not get back on the elevator so I ran to the stair case. I said out loud all the way down, "don't throw up, don't throw up". Luckily I didn't run into any strangers in the stairwell. Got to third floor ran in the pitch black dark room and nothing. Just nausea. It took almost 3 hours to finally get to sleep and not be nauseous. Woke up the next morning totally fine. Whew, thank goodness. I will NEVER EVER read a book in the car again! Poor Dr. A, Jill, and Monette had to bring all my luggage up.

Thursday Monette and I rode with Dr. A and Jill to the convention center since they had meetings and it was a beautiful day. We went in just thrown on clothes and no make-up. Yes, I said no make-up. They wanted us to sight see. We saw some sights that was for sure! On the way back she drove I navigated. Now, I am usually really good at this. I had my phone GPS, problem was it kept dropping signal. So we took a wrong turn. So much so that I encouraged Monette to run the stop sign and just go for fear of us not returning home in one piece! It was an extremely shady looking neighborhood. Oh who am I kidding, shady doesn't even begin to cover it. She stopped very quickly, lol and we got out of their fast! We ended up missing breakfast at the hotel due to our "detour" so we totally planned driving by a Subway (shear luck) and ate there. I had a flat bread turkey wrap with egg white and spinach. Delicious! I was so hungry I really didn't care who saw me. We went back to the hotel and took our time getting ready talking and sharing stories. One of the things I love the most about AdvoCare is the people it has brought into my life. Truly a blessing to have these wonderful people in my life. We ate lunch before heading to the convention center. I had the grilled chicken wrap and fruit cup at Chik-Fil-A for lunch. I kinda felt like I had way to many carbs this day but I stuck to the plan as much as possible.

Outside the Convention Center

Really cool seeing all the AdvoCare signage around the Convention Center.

Convention Center foyer...LOVED this Star made of Cowboy (and Girl) hats.

Ran into this sweet lady in line at the
"ADVO GEAR" store. Maria Tanner.
She and I connected on facebook right after
I joined AdvoCare. We recognized each
other and hugged it out. She has is such
an inspiration to me. She is a mom, military
wife, and fitness leader. #champion

We arrived at the convention center around 2:00 so that we could "shop" (ha...ya'll do know this is me we are talking about right?) and find a seat. While waiting on product training to start we took a little break. Ron Reynolds happened to walk by. Dr. A scored us a pic with him! You will see him on the AdvoCare big stage photos later in this post. He introduced all of the Rising Star award winners. He is an AdvoCare Vice President, Distributor Development , Creator of Award-Winning DebtBuster® System, and author.

We had product training at 3:00. I loved hearing the physicians explain products and their benefits. We have a shield with the AdvoCare company and it is that Med/Sci board. Practicing Doctors and Scientist that work diligently with AdvoCare to make sure that we are producing and distributing some of the safest, highest quality products available. And that they work! One of them said, what good does a good product do if it doesn't work? Here are just a few of the tips I picked up from the product training:

• Schedule and time management are key to weight management.
• Protein should be a part of every meal.
• Lack of sleep increases stress hormones which increase carb cravings.
• Bad bacteria in the "gut" causes us to gain weight.
• Processed foods are low in fiber and when we lack fiber we fluster bad bacteria.
• The source of calories can dictate body composition.
• To lose fat you gain muscle.
• The Body will: 
• Gain Fat when Calories Increased and Protein Decreased
• Gain Muscle when Calories Increased and Protein Increased (increased calories from healthy foods.)
• Spark is not just energy it is FOCUSED energy.
• Amplify AT (one of my favs) is liquid soluble antioxidants that battle damage.

There were many more but these really stood out to me and made sense for me in my battle.

Has anyone else noticed how I look like The Jolly Green Giant...no wait let's say Zena Warrior Princess next to all of these people?  Geez!

These are just a couple pics of down town Fort Worth. I think it is beautiful there at night. It reminded me a lot of the Gas Lamp District in San Diego, which I also love.

On Friday night we ate dinner at Cabo Grande with Mark and Pam Rushmore and several other members of our team. Pam asked me to be part of an impromptu training video. I had to give just a 30-60 sec blip of my story for a training video they are working on. Mark and Pam are both very important people to me. I met Pam the very first night I was introduced to AdvoCare and her sincerity and passion helped me to make a decision that would change my life forever. I'm so grateful to her for that. I met Mark at a mixer later. I love that they do this together and appreciate their dedication to our team. It was buffet style fajitas. I chose to only eat a half of a shell. I chose grilled chicken, black beans, pico de galo, fresh guac and salsa. It was amazing. The flavors were out of this world.


I had two Sparks this day. One mid morning and one mid afternoon with my Catalyst.

One of my biggest inspirations was also there Heather Hodges. My trip was made at this point, yes even before seeing Drew. She probably thinks I am crazy, I was giddy with excitement. Why? Heather is a mom, just like me. She found herself in a place she wanted to change and realized she was capable of more, and DID IT! She makes me want to work for what my body is capable of, for what I am capable of because I was made for more. While making this picture she told me "If you can make it to silver, you can make it to gold. If you can make it gold, you can make it to gold 3 star, ruby." She does not know this, but I will never forget that. What an encourager, example, leader, Champion in my book.

Check out her blog, she's beast y'all.  Heather Hodges

The first pic is us waiting on Opening Session to start...My Advisor, Coach and Friend Jill Acosta, my sweet friend and encourager Monette, and I. The second pic is a #silverselfies pic! 

Opening session began with an amazing guitar rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by one of the band members. Reminded me that I am free to be a part of AdvoCare (an AMERICAN company) because of the men and women that have sacrificed their lives for us.










Drew was first! Wooo hoo! He has been using AdvoCare products for 13 years. Even though I have met him, hugged him, and smelled him, no wait that was Chad smelling him, ha, before it was very cool getting to hear him talk about these products! Here are a few of the treasures I walked away with from Drew:

• Get up at whatever time it takes you to be the best you you can be (I am NOT a morning person, at all but I'm trying Drew I'm trying.)
• Have a routine, the basics. Set goals.
• Get the hardest part of your day over with first.
• Be focused and present with whatever task is at hand.
• It is okay to have personal goal but make sure those goals align with the "team" goals.
• If you do things the right way good things will happen to you. It may not be today.
• Adversity moulds you into who you are.
• Trust your coach, your teachings, fundamentals.
• Always continue to work. 
• Being a champion means being able to accomplish something that is consistently great.
• Win the day.
• Have the mindset of "What's the next challenge".
• You are either getting better or worse, you never stay the same.
• Leave the "game" better than you found it.

Next was an array of AdvoCare Distributors, Leaders. Here are a few things they said:

• Have courage to take action in the case of fear. ~ Brandon and Jen LaRue
• Fight for the kids attached to your yes! ~Charlotte Valenzaela (FYI she had a rocking outfit on: Kelly Green chiffon strapless romper with a white blazer and heels ...HOT!)

Emmitt Smith took the stage next. Emmitt (even though I have never been, nor will I ever be a Dallas Cowboys fan) was amazing. He was a phenomenal motivational speaker. are a few of the amazing things he said:

• People are intimidated by change because they don't know whats on the other side of change.
• If you don't change things get stale.
• You have to have the proper attitude to step into your destiny.
• Don't run from intimidation, run towards it. Get your mind set in the direction you want to go.
• There has to be a vision that everybody can buy into.
• Look in the mirror everyday. Am I doing everything in my power to help this "team" become successful?
• What can I learn to make myself better?
• PROPER PREPARATION PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE.
• Begin with humility.
• Always acknowledge your team in success.
• YOU MUST MAKE SACRIFICES TO BE DIFFERENT, UNIQUE, A BETTER YOU. (wow that is #truth)
• You get better when you surround yourself with the right people.
• We were made to last.
• Do what it takes. 
• When you get the hardest thing over with first the rest of the day will be like riding a bike down hill.
• Success is not reserved for the elite.
• Don't compare. Want it for yourself and work for it.
• Stepping out of your comfort zone takes courage and confidence. (Emmitt Smith was not raised a ballroom dancer, ha!)
• When you make your work look easy you have done a good job.
• "The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards."~ Bear Bryant (See I knew I had to have a reason to like him, he ended with a Bear quote!)

Danny McDaniel spoke and gave an amazing illustration using a baseball. How our core values are 85% developed by 18. How people and things wrap around us that make us hard like the threads around a baseball core. How just like that baseball we keep rolling after being thrown around, batted around. How we have to cut away those threads to be a champion at life not just a champion at heart.

Saturday morning we got up and went to breakfast. I had three boiled eggs  (two with yolk, one without) and a bowl of oatmeal.

Richard and Sherri Wright AdvoCare, President and CEO of Advo








 Dr. Redman and other members of the Med/Sci Board

The morning session opened with the Product Development panel discussion. Here are a few things I learned at this session.

• The main goal to improve health is a state of balance.
• If supplements are not delivered in the proper way the "gut" will destroy them.
• Know the difference in "Hard-Science" and "Social-Media Science" when researching product information.
• Only 1% if the nation has actual diagnosed "Celiac Disease" and should be on a gluten free diet. These diets are usually high in fat and are not suitable for everyone.
• Individuals in families could have the same strains of microbes in their "gut".
• Probiotic is an excellent tool to improve over all health and weight management.
• Informed choice process AdvoCare uses is not mandated it is volunteer.
• After 30 we lose 3-5% of our muscle tissue each decade.
• Joint inflammation can be a window into inflammation at a deeper source. Your heart works in conjunction with your muscle and skeletal system, its all integrated.
• Vascular complications have been linked to cognitive health.

We heard from several other AdvoCare leaders for different types of distributor trainings. One tip I thought was really cute about commitment, probably because I have just recently signed up for my first 5K.

• The 5 K Example: You talk about doing a 5K. You tell others your doing a 5K. Then you sign up, actually pay, and hit submit, OH CRAP! I better make a plan to make this happen! It's called the power of the "SUBMIT" button!
• Quote about commitment: "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to drawback, always ineffectiveness."~William H. Murray

We walked a few blocks to Subway for lunch. I had the turkey flat bread with extra spinach and a little vinegar. At about 3:00 I had an Advo Breakfast Bar. The apple cinnomin bar is crunchy and so good! Again I had two Sparks. One mid morning and one mid afternoon with my Catalyst.

Then the testimonials began. All of them were great. Liz and Jessie Cort said that "there is more to life than AdvoCare but a little bit of AdvoCare in your life can change a whole lot of it." Kayla Schneider said she was thankful for AdvoCare because before she was "Thicka than a Snicka".

We got to hear Deb Fisser speak on word choices. Sooooo much of this training, I believe, applied to many aspects of my life. Things like:

• Listening is intentional.
• Walk into fear, it is false.
• What are your word choices to yourself? What are you speaking to your children? Your spouse?
• Your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, and your habits become your destiny. (This reminded me another reason to be in God's Word every day. Filling my thoughts with Him instead of things of this world).

We had training from Joel and Jackie Holcomb on team building. It was great! They broke it down and made it make sense. They talked about having a plan but making sure it involved action. Also that it had a purpose. A dream you don't have to fight for is not a dream, it's a nap.

One common trend that the most successful people in AdvoCare that we heard from had was that they were all couples. They are doing this together. The one that touched my heart the most was Brookes Reid from Tennesee. She trained us on the phases of a mixer. What she talked about that was a blessing to me was about trusting and respecting her husband. How doing this business together took the respect she had for her husband or "Big Daddy" as she called him to a whole new level. Trusting the decisions that they made together but that she allowed him to lead in with their business.

I also had never really thought about exactly how much responsibility men feel when it comes to providing for their family. My daddy has worked hard his whole life to make sure we were provided for. He did without, so did my mama, so that we could have the things we needed and wanted at times. That is a burden yall. Of course it's easy when your the "Princess" to say my daddy worked hard and appreciate him for that, which I do, love you mama and daddy. When its the hubs your talking about and you are in this thing called life together its not as easy. Chad is a by the booker. He works hard and plays very little. I'm the dreamer, and imagine this, the spender. This has not been an easy dynamic at times because of my inability to see what Chad was looking at. I am blessed and have more than I could ever ask for but I have never stopped to think about about how when "mama WANTS a new pair of shoes, not needs" that "daddy", a.k.a. Chad, is the one wanting to give me all the red high heels my little heart desires but he has two boys to put through college and a house to pay for etc. It's not that he is saying no, it's just that he has the discernment to say wait or maybe that's not what you need when I don't and I need to be okay with that. R-E-S-P-E-C-T YALL.  EYE OPENER! Shout out to my husband. He gives absolutely everything he does 110% including being a great daddy and husband. He is an amazing man that I am blessed to share my life with. I won't go into details because he would probably hack my blog and delete it for all eternity (he's also very private and a techie...and I am..well I am not). When I came home I wanted to share it all with him. Every detail. Things that I had not wanted to go there with him about because it was MY business (hence my independence and he-woman abilities). Not any more. It is ours. I know that we can do this together. I want us to do this together. He is one of the reasons attached to my "yes". So one day soon, he can let his hair down too.

At one point one of the speakers asked for anyone in the room that had because of AdvoCare paid off 50,000.00 or more in debt to stand up. You would not believe the people that stood up. Then he asked for any mom's that had been able to quit work and not send their children to daycare because of AdvoCare to stand up. Again, in awe. Then he asked all the dad's that had been able to come home to be with their families because of AdvoCare to stand up. Okay, at this point, tears were rolling. Then he said the reason we have "Leadership School or Success School is because there are still people sitting in this room and we want you to be able to stand up." Chills, pure chills. That is what AdvoCare is about. Now don't get me wrong, I love my job. Chad and I don't have any crazy plans to quit our jobs and run off into the sunset with our shaker bottles. We just want more for our family and AdvoCare can help us do that. It also reminded me of my goals to help others in this never ending journey I am on for health and wellness. That this is an opportunity to encourage and help. To pour into the lives of others because God has blessed me with this opportunity that allows me to share my story, my struggles, my wins, my losses, my faith, and my victory through Him.

AdvoCare Hall of Fame 

Top 10 Awards

 Benji Parr 

Live Chat with the AdvoCare Nascar Driver (Endorser), Trevor Bayne

AdvoCare Endorsers

This guy is our newest endorser. For all of you Cross Fit buffs out there. He will be at Success School in August. World's Fittest Man 3-time Champion Rich Froning. He is also the star of the new AdvoCare commercial. I'm good with that! 

On the way home we stopped at Arby's. I had the roasted turkey market fresh sandwich with lettuce an tomato only. I had a peanut butter to-go pack about half-way home. 

I know this was a long one. I just had so much to say. I am sure there are tons of grammatical errors. It wasn't all dream big, feel good. We sat through extensive business building training as well. (That's the stuff that you gotta become a party of the AdvoCare family to learn about!)

At first I was worried about being on a "challenge" while traveling. I've been extremely hard on myself about not being "where I was this time last year". I proved to myself that I could "travel" and maintain a healthy diet. I did eat a few more carbs than I would have liked but I made the best of it and stuck to the "plan" as much as possible.




This experience was exactly what I needed to be motivated in this journey again. AdvoCare stands for Advocates Caring for people. That in itself is another reminder to me why I choose to be a part of this amazing company. It was something I will never forget.

If you are interested in becoming a part of the AdvoCare Family or if you just want to look, feel, and perform better take a moment to check out my site. You won't ever regret the choice to "Be A Champion". Kellie Penson, AdvoCare Advisor

Special Thanks to Dr. Joe and Jill Acosta for an amazing trip. I appreciate the love and support both of you have extended to me. 

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you." ~John Wooden

LUSCIOUS LASHES

Hey ladies! I have soooo much to catch you up on. I haven't had 5 seconds lately to blog. This post however, could not wait! 

Do you love long, full, thick, luscious lashes? I do. I don't go anywhere without eye makeup. It's my favorite make-up. The older I get the thinner my lashes are getting. So regular mascara just doesn't give me the "look" I want. 

 I tried falsies. The kind you get at the nail salon that last for about three weeks depending on how careful you are with them. This comedian explains what goes down at a nail salon and how I got talked into them: Comedian Angela Johnson "The Nail Salon" Literally only $20 dolla more! They looked amazing. That was until a little section fell out. Then I looked like a little old man's mouth with missing teeth on my eyelids. If you have ever had falsies you know exactly what I am talking about. They look amazing for about 10 days. After that a piece or two falls off because you either bumped them or rubbed them really hard (which always happens because you are trying not to) or the glue just wore off. Then you are left with pieces of eyelash that are clearly not yours and spaces in between (hence the little old man with missing teeth). So it's either pull them off or have deformed lashes for another week or so. I pulled them off. Not fun. My eyes were swollen and watery for DAYS. Everyone thought I had been crying and asked what in the world was wrong with me. "Oh nothing, just pulled my false eyelashes off." Not something you really want to say to people. Don't get me wrong. I have no shame when it comes to wearing false nails, lashes, or hair. I just didn't want to explain the whole ordeal, and I explain everything. Why my hair is a mess at 5:00 in the afternoon after a long day at work to the check out lady at Walmart, why I am on blood-pressure medicine and how low of a dose I am currently on due to my weight loss to the pharmacist assistant at Walgreens, why I am buying poster board at 10:00 p.m. the night before my 5th grader's project is due to the Dollar General stock-boy. You get the idea.

I have a few friends that buy their own and put them on themselves and have really good results. I haven't tried them so I can't attest to their quality or how to put them on. I have just never bought them and tried them because I don't think I have time to put them on the right way and don't want to be looking like this...

A friend of mine told me about the 3D Fiber Lashes at a conference I went to a few weeks ago. She asked if I had seen them and sent me a link to the info. (She knows I love me some make-up) Before I got home from the conference another friend of mine had sent me an invitation to a party for them she was hosting for her sister who is a Rep. The pics were amazing. Here are my personal results! 

No Mascara or Liner

Liner and Regular Mascara

With Younique 3D Fiber lashes/Without 

With Younique 3D Fiber lashes on both eyes

Now pay no attention to my "in desperate need of waxing" eyebrows or my eyeshadow ( I told y'all I have been super busy). It's a regular work day so no dramatic eye make up. This is just with one coat of the 3D Fiber lashes. You can add coats to make them even fuller and longer. I am in love! They apply super easy and do not take any more time than normal mascara.

Here is a YouTube video demonstrating how to put them on. You will see it is just like applying mascara with way more dramatic results. 

APPLYING YOUNIQUE 3D FIBER LASHES

So how much do they cost right? $29.00 for a three month supply...UMMMMM hello ladies! You can't beat that with a stick. My normal mascara that I use very sparingly is Lancome Drama Hypnose and it retails for around $27.00-$38.00 depending on where you purchase it from. It may last me 3 months if I am really careful with it. The thing is I thought my lashes looked like they do in the last picture with it...I had no idea what they were capable of!

I am hosting an online party. To get your set of lashes click on the link below and order away! You will NOT be disappointed! They have an entire line of make-up including BB cream that I can't wait to try! For my teen girls these are perfect for prom or pageants! 

Kellie's Younique Online Party Ends February 27th ORDER TODAY!

My First Mammogram

This is a post about my first MAMMOGRAM experience. I am sharing it to encourage mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, cousins, girlfriends, daughters, nieces to take breast examination seriously. 

Last week I noticed a small knot under my right arm. I thought maybe that I was just imagining things and ignored it. The next day I avoided "checking" to see if it was there all day. Finally I "checked". Yep, there. Not big, very small and almost unnoticeable. Of course immediate panic and worry set in. I'm 34. This can't be anything. Can it? I tried to block it out. I called my doctor Monday morning. When I called they made me an appointment for today. All week I put on my brave face, telling myself I am not going to panic, I am not going to worry, I'm sure it's nothing, God's got this. I would forget about it for five minutes then my mind would be immediately drawn back to it. I prayed about it. As I was praying I couldn't really find the words to say. "Lord, please don't let this be anything. Lord, heal me if it is. Lord, please don't let this be anything. Lord, heal me if it is." Over and over I repeated this. It's like I could not wrap my mind around even the possibility of it being "something"so much so that I couldn't even ask God for help. All I could think about was wanting to grow old with Chad, to celebrate anniversaries and birthdays with him, to watch Peyton graduate, to listen to Landon tell stories, to kiss them on the cheek and wish them as much love and happiness as I have the day they get married, to hold my grand-children. Peyton is 15, Landon is 10. I want them to know me, to remember their mama and how they were her world. They aren't ready for that. The words just wouldn't come out of my mouth. One thing I did manage to get out in my prayers was that I would give HIM all the GLORY for His hand on my life. That no matter what "it" was, no matter good or bad, He would get my praise and I would share His love and power in my life with others. So that is why I am posting this. 

I believe God uses things that we love in our lives to show us the He is with us and that we are not alone. Music is one way He speaks to me. On the way to the appointment the song Pray by Sanctus Real came on K-love. It is one of my favorites. Here are the lyrics:

I bow my head to pray, I don't know what to say
I'm not sure how to fix the things I'm dealing with
I'm in a desperate place, I need to share the weight
But I just don't know how, to let it all pour out
Though I'm silent, my heart is crying
Cause I was made to come to You

So I pray
God I need You more than words can say
Right here in this moment
You know my heart, You know my need
You know every part of me
So even if it's just to speak Your name
I'm gonna pray

I failed to find the time, but You've been calling out
I let the days go by as if I could live without
But it's gotta be here now, I won't be pulled away
Cause it's just You and I, so let the world around us fade

As I pray
God I need You more than words can say
Right here in this moment
You know my heart, You know my need
You know every part of me
So even if it's just to speak Your name
I'm gonna pray
I'm gonna pray

Father. Will You meet me here right now?
Father. I surrender, lay it down
Father

And every time I close my eyes
I know that I was made
To lift my hands and pray
I lift my hands and pray

You know my heart, You know my need
And every single part of me
So even if it's just to speak Your name
I'm gonna pray
I'm gonna pray

You know my heart, You know my need
You know every part of me
More than words, You are my life
Take it as an offering

To hear this beautiful song click this link:

Pray by Sanctus Real

Wow, this could not be any more true for my life this week. I lived the part "You know my heart, You know my need, You know every single part of me, So even if it's just to speak Your name, I'm gonna pray" this week. I don't think I have ever in my life experienced the kind of fear that I felt this week. Don't get me wrong I know my God is bigger and greater than any force this world can bring my way, but I am human, and the unknown is very scary. The song talks about how we are made to come to Him. I think sometimes I forget that. I get busy. I get complacent. I get comfortable. I think He used this experience today to remind me that I was made to come to Him. For everything, for anything. He's our Father. The Almighty. The Beginning and End. He is in control of everything that was, and is, and is to come. Do you forget that? I do. 

My mama went with me today. Even though I didn't tell her where we were going or why until we were almost there. Almost got in trouble over that one! I just didn't want her to worry over me all week. I was doing enough for the both of us. I went in filled out all that lovely new patient paper work and sat down. I rambled a lot. Nervous energy I guess. Oh who am I kidding. I can talk the ears off a billy goat! (Southern Sayin') They called me back. The sweet young lady walked me to a dressing room to change into my "mammogram attire". She told me to remove my deodorant and to crack the door when I was ready. Okay, first, nobody told me that you had to remove your deodorant for a mammogram/ultrasound. So I am telling you now so you will know. Second, is anyone really ever ready for this? I mean even if I didn't have an "area of concern" as they called it I am not sure this is something I was ready for at the time. So in true blogger fashion I snapped this "selfie" with my oh-so-cute paper gown on and my half-hearted smile. Deep breath, and crack the door. She took me down the hall to the room for the mammogram. She told me to let her know if I felt uncomfortable at any time. She explained everything she did and asked me to do in the most pleasant of voices. A few minutes later we were done. Wait. That's all? Ok, no pain, no agony, 5 minutes tops. Tell me again why women have told me stories for years about what a horrible experience having a mammogram was?  Tell me again why something that could save your life is so simple but so avoided. It didn't hurt, they were very professional, no big deal at all. If it's time to get one, get one. Nothing to it! 

Again, since I had an "area of concern" I was taken to a little holding room to wait for the doctor to read the mammogram and set up for an ultrasound. I sat down in a chair with a heated blanket. I thought to myself  "Oh this is so nice." The young lady helping me handed me a silicone "breast" to hold and showed me what "breast cancer" felt like. She told me that it is hard as a rock and not painful. What? Not painful. Now that doesn't make sense. Learned lots of new things today! She asked me if I was ok and then told me the doctor would be in shortly to get me. Since I was a new patient, while waiting, they had me watch a video on "Self Breast Examination" or "SBE" as the little lady from 1985 called it on the VHS tape. Amazing how so much has changed in medicine but so many simple, important things and processes have stayed the same. When something is just as applicable 20 years later you know it works! As I watched the video my mind began to wonder and I almost had a melt down. "Is that what it feels like? What's taking so long? This warm blanket is just a distraction. So is this video. Lord, please don't let this be anything. Lord, heal me if it is." I looked around the room sort of watching, sort of not. Then I saw a scripture posted on a little plaque above the television...

Jeremiah 29:11" For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

The doctor knocked right after I read it. So I didn't have time to let it process. She introduced herself and immediately said "Kellie your mammogram was all clear". Whew! Thank you JESUS! Then she said, "But, since your area of concern is under your arm we are going to go now and do an ultrasound to check everything out really well".  Que nerves! So we walked down to another little room. I hopped on the table. She asked me questions about my family, my husband, my boys, my job, where I shop. Ha, I thought that was a fabulous question. Again, good grief, this lady is distracting me from worrying. How dare they throw all these distractions in! Then she said "I don't see anything at all to worry about." She told me I have fibrocystic breast disease and showed me what it looks like on the ultrasound. She explained that the "knot" i felt under my arm was just tissue that had settled there and that it was nothing to be concerned about. (I can definitely live with that!) She checked my lymph nodes and told me they were all normal. She told me to continue regular monthly breast exams and keep appointments with my regular doctor then come back to see her when I am 40 unless anything changes. Because I had a hysterectomy and have been on hormone replacement therapy she told me that I did the right thing by coming. That is wasn't an over reaction and that I needed a good base-line since I will soon be 35. She assured me that it is always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to our health.

Oh thank you JESUS! I could breathe. I felt like a ton of bricks had been lifted off my shoulders. I got up, hugged her, I am a hugger, can't help myself, and happily headed to the dressing room. I thanked everyone in the hallway and told them all to have a wonderful day. I am sure they thought I was way to chipper! I would have hugged all of them but they looked busy so I didn't. So then I snapped the "post-mammogram selfie". My GOD is GOOD ALL the time, and ALL the time, GOD is GOOD!

My story today had a happy ending. I am sure had the outcome been different I may not have been as positive or upbeat. I honestly don't know what I would feel and I am thankful that I didn't have to find out. I can't imagine what the beautiful, strong, courageous women that have breast cancer go through every day. The kind of fear they face on a daily basis is unimaginable to me. I know that they are without a doubt some of bravest human beings on this earth after experiencing even the possibility of this horrible disease this week. This post is dedicated to them. They fight every day to live. To have more time with their husbands, children, family, and friends. To my family and friends that are in this battle...I am committing to pray for you, for strength, comfort, and courage. You know who you are. To my precious family and friends that have lost someone to this terrible disease I am praying for you, for strength, comfort, and courage. I am going to do my best not to complain about my flaws, and parts of my body that I do not like or think is the best. I am going to be thankful for the healthy body that I have and focus on keeping it that way to the best of my ability. 

I am one blessed and happy girl. I do have a few new gray hairs from all of this but I am so relieved. To those of you that prayed for me today, thank you from the bottom of my heart. On the way home I turned the radio on. The song The Lord Our God by Kristian Stanfill was on K-Love. It started with "The Lord our God is ever faithful". Yes HE is! He is faithful in the good outcome, He is faithful in the bad outcome. Either way...He keeps His promises and He will see us through til the end. 

Here are the lyrics:

Promise maker, promise keeper

You finish what you begin
Our provision through the desert
You see it through 'til the end
You see it through 'til the end

The Lord our God is ever faithful
Never changing through the ages
From this darkness You will lead us
And forever we will say
You're the Lord our God

In the silence, in the waiting
Still we can know You are good
All Your plans are for Your glory
Yes, we can know You are good
Yes, we can know You are good

We won't move without You
We won't move without You
You're the light of all and all that we need

And forever we will say
You're the Lord our God

Check it out for yourself...It will bless you!

The Lord Our God by Kristian Stanfill

Afterwards I went to lunch with my mama and did a little shopping. Hey, I deserved it. I had my mammogram today!

Sunday in the South: The Tale of the Three Trees

I rotate teaching Sunday school with two other precious women. Today was my turn to teach a "Christmas" lesson to our Youth Girls Sunday School Class. I wanted to do something fun and different from the "normal" Christmas lesson. The Tale of the Three Trees and cookies just kept coming to mind. Cookies because well...who doesn't love a good Christmas cookie and the Three Trees story because it is one of my favorites. My mama bought if for Peyton when he was little bitty, he passed it on to Landon. It is a treasured keepsake in our home. Since the book is fictional I wanted to tie in scripture for my girls. This is what God laid on my heart for them...

The powerful message that God has a special plan for our lives permeates through the story of the three trees. The trees, much like all of us have dreams and plans for what they want in life. The trees find themselves in places that they never desired to be in during their life, but at the end "God's love changes everything."

Listen to the actual story here:

The Tale of Three Trees

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

God has a plan for each and every one of us. There may be times we lose sight of our dreams, and we may not understand the things that take place in our lives. We must remember through that God loves us, has a plan for us, and is in complete control. We can trust him.

I asked the girls if the trees dreams came true. There answer, "Yes, just in a different way than they wanted.

Isaiah 55:8
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord."

We talked about Mary and Joseph. Two people that couldn't be more like the trees. Neither of them were able to live out their original plans for lives. Mary certainly wasn't expecting to have a baby much less deliver the King of the universe. They did however end up with each other, and more than they could have ever hoped or dreamed of. I talked to the girls about how cool it is that the people of the Bible, even though it was 100's of 1000's of years ago, had struggles just like us. Had hopes, and dreams, and plans that didn't go exactly like they had wanted.

Life is like a tapestry. When you look at it from underneath, it looks like a mass of mess. Random threads that seem to be tangled with no pattern. Yet when it is seen from above, the beauty of the planned artwork is evident. We only see life from here below. Many times it appears as a mass of mess, forgotten by the artist and left to random chance. That is so far from the truth. God has a plan for each of us, and although we can't see the pattern of the threads, He can. He is in control of all of them. We just have to trust and be obedient like Mary and Joseph.

Just like tapestry one of the most amazing pieces of artwork designed by God is a snowflake. Although their beauty is not seen by the human eye each one that falls has intricate, perfect details, designed for His purpose.  Just like us. Each person, designed by him, unique, different, beautiful in His sight, not seen at times by the human eye.

Wow, what an Awesome God we serve!

I gave the girls the brightest, pinkest, glitteriest, shiniest, snowflake ornaments for their trees I could find. To remind them each year that they are beautiful, unique, and designed for a purpose. I love each and every one of them and they teach me so much each Sunday that I am with them. One of my many reasons for loving #sundayinthesouth.

We decorated our trees with icing and sprinkles. The girls had fun decorating their trees and enjoying their cookie treats. The boys class was totally jealous! By the way, I am 34 and this is the very first time I have EVER rolled out dough and used my cookie cutters to make real Christmas cookies by myself! I told them I would accept my medal now! Especially since I baked them at 11:30 the night before...but you can hear about that in another blog post on another day.

Challenge Results and Some other things....

THE RESULTS ARE IN...DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

BEFORE

 AFTER

12.4 POUNDS AND 21 INCHES IN 24 DAYS...ANY QUESTIONS? 

(I personally think my feet look skinner.)

If this doesn't tell you anything else let it tell you this...The 24 day challenge works. It works. Plain and simple. If you do what AdvoCare recommends and you use the products the way they were designed it works. Here is a copy of the form I submitted so you can see where the inches came off. No tricks, gimmicks, real results on a real person, ME! I am still frustrated with myself for allowing the weight to come back and I will be doing another challenge starting January 2, 2014 to jumpstart my mission of 155 pounds. I was at 159 last March and I have every intention of getting back there by March 2014. I am however pleased with my results. I did it without even looking or checking off a list. I know how to do this. I just have to do it. I finished my challenge the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I don't know how I did competition wise but I am proud of myself for sticking with it and finishing it. Yes, I enjoyed Thanksgiving. If there is one thing I have learned over the past almost three years (JAN 1 will be three years of me working on a healthy lifestyle and body) its that you can't obsess over everything you put in your mouth every minute of every day. Did I overeat? Probably. Am I totally off the wagon because of it? Not unless I allow myself to be. It's a day, a meal, a bite, a choice at a time. I know myself well. I know that I won't turn down alot of the dips, desserts, candy's or other foods that come with this time of year of the next few weeks so my plan of attack is taking my AdvoCare products and making sure I get a work out in at least 3-5 times a week. I didn't snack or sample food all day Thanksgiving day and I continued my AdvoCare products to help de-rail any "adverse effects" of all the food. Which leads me to the rest of my post. Thanksgiving.

We had our Thanksgiving dinner at my Granny's house this year. I made the dressing. Now keep in mind I don't cook. That doesn't mean I can't...It mean's I don't. I have gotten away with not taking anything to family gatherings for years because most of my family thinks I can't.  (Mama paid me to stay out of the kitchen as a TEEN) Shhhh! I think my Granny Bessie would have been so proud of me. It was perfect...not to dry and not to soupy. I made my Mama tell me how to make it like three times. She makes the best ever. Same recipe so I knew if I did it just exactly like she said it would be a hit. It was her Granny Bessie's recipe and it was delicious. I think they all were shocked! After my family dinner we took the little bit that was left to Chad's mom's house to share. I only had enough left for Chad to eat for Breakfast on Black Friday. Gross I know but he loves it. I was just happy I didn't burn it or the house down in the process. (I set off the fire alarm quite frequently remember) I will however be paying someone to "de-gut" the chicken if I make it again next year. That was awful! I mean really. Why can't they go ahead and do that when they process them anyway? 

Nana, Pate, Poppa, Lan, Me, Chad, Sam, Uncle Josey, and Granny

I purchased another set of extensions from Sally's Beauty Supply the day after Thanksgiving. The brand is Euronext. I got them on sale. I really wanted another set of Luxy's but I was trying to cut cost. As soon as I got them home I was disappointed. They were no where near as thick as my Luxy's. They are non-returnable so I thought oh great I'm stuck with extensions I can't use. I decided I would just mix them in with my Luxy extensions to pull some brown down into the blonde. Then I decided to give them a real shot. I went ahead and fixed my hair this morning and put them in. Curling them made all the difference in the world! I love them. I acutally like them as much if not better than the Luxy's for "every-day" wear. They are lighter and way more comforable. I have had them in all day and can't even feel that they are there. The only down side is they don't look good straight. I think you would have to have board straight hair to make them look right straight. I like my hair with a wave to it anyway so all in all I am happy with them. Also, really diging the length. They are 14 inch so they don't look so "I'm trying to be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader"...I mean I would like to be one, who wouldn't? But since I am not (only because I can't stand the Cowgirls and I don't live in TX) I'm good with the shorter ones. Maybe I could talk Chad into moving to New Orleans so I could try-out for the Saintsations...okay never mind lost my train of thought. Last note on  hair. I am really liking the dark. I've had mixed responses to it. Some like it dark, others tell me they like me better blonde. My grandmother HATES it. Sorry Granny. It's just hair y'all. Just hair. It doesn't make me who I am or someone I am not. What it should tell you about me is that I am adventurous and I am not afraid of change. Try it sometime...if you do what you have always done you will get what you've always gotten.

#OOTD #SUNDAYINTHESOUTH

I haven't posted an #OOTD in a while so here you go...

Black and White Tribal Print Dress by Joel from Jewelry Just for Fun, Tribal Necklace and Hammered Cross Earrings by Premier Jewelry (Had a party and racked up in freebies!), Boots from Glitz & Glamour

Can I just say one more time how much I LOVE fall clothes. Especially all the pretty warm sweaters and leggings. I know that I am not a New York Fashion writer, I don't need anyone to tell me I don't work for Glamour or Vogue but can I just say I am proud that I was sporting the "printed" leggings and Piko tops LAST YEAR that are ever so popular this year? I realize I didn't start the trend but at least I know I am ahead of and "ON" trend. Not too bad for a 34 year old mom huh?! I know something "HOT" when I see it! It's funny I searched the WORLD WIDE WEB over looking for these. Found a store online devoted solely to leggings...some of which I am not sure were made for public viewing. But took a chance and ordered them because they were the only ones I even remotely could find that were the "type" I was looking for. Now, I can go to all of my favorite stores and buy as many pair as I want. 

Our Elf Reggie returned via Fireplace the day after Thanksgiving sporting his new "Team Elf" Jersey. (Elf attire can be purchased at Faulkenberry's in Philadelphia.) Reggie will return to the Penson home every year no matter how old my boys get. It's a really fun Christmas tradition seeing all the things our little Elf gets into. If you have small kids start this as soon as possible. You can find awesome ideas for "Elf" activities on Pinterest.

Black Friday was a huge success. I am almost done with my Christmas shopping.  Chad did most of it Thanksgiving night online at Amazon.com. They had amazing "Lightening" Deals. Especially on things that most boys want! My sis-in-law Chas, Celesta (my MIL), and my niece Hailey Brooke started at 3:30 a.m. on Friday. We hit JCPenny at 4:00 so we could get a free Mickey Mouse Snow Globe...."I got a snow-globe hey" (inside joke). We could have gone at 10:00 and gotten one. They had more than plenty. We were the only ones in the store! It was great. No pushing, shoving, etc. All the crazies must have been out the night before. No offense to my friends that braved that crowd. I shopped with them until around 10:00 then met my mom to shop for a while. My mama and I have been shopping buddies since I was a kid. We have always done Black Friday. I really didn't buy all that much or find any "AMAZING" deals. It was more about tradition, getting out, and spending girl time with the ones I love. Oh, and I never pass up a shopping trip!

CHALLENGE UPDATE AND SOME OTHER STUFF

Well, I promised to update you on my progress so here goes.

I am on day 14 so I have 10 days left of my AdvoCare 24 day challenge. I have done it without even looking at the checklist. That tells me two things...I have done it so many times I don't need a checklist and that I know what I am supposed to do to lose and maintain a healthy body and weight. I don't need a special "diet" or "program". All I need is to eat clean and use the high-quality nutritional and wellness products AdvoCare provides. I have not been hungry at all. I have really eaten alot. I eat five times a day. Three meals, two snacks. I have come up with some new creative things to eat during the max phase to change things up a bit. Breakfast this morning consisted of a sliced banana with natural peanut butter and granola on top. It was delicious! I have not had anything but water, spark, and a tiny bit of Trop 50 OJ (It's great 50 calories, less sugar. A must try!) No, I have not popped a top just to hear the sound either. Thought about it, decided I wasn't strong enough to handle it. I plan on going all the way to Christmas without one! Then we will go from there. I also tried some vegetable stir fry the healthy way. You just steam in the micro a few minutes to get tender then toss them around on the stove top in a dab of olive oil until the edges are seared slightly, that's how I like it anyway. So great! I even hosted a jewelry party and survived without breaking the rules. Which reminds me that no matter what is going on I can choose to eat right, and plan.

As of day 10 I was down 8 pounds (well 7.8 to be exact but I rounded up, ha!) I clearly need a pedicure and need to change that hideous polish, so excuse that. I am down some inches too...ok several inches but I am saving that for day 24 for you guys. (Insert a squeal here) I haven't had time to exercise due to my extremely busy schedule. I plan to start running again today. Walking, jogging, then running is what helped me drop weight to begin with and I am determined to do a 5K somewhere in 2014. It is a great stress reliever too believe it or not. I did scrub my house top to bottom this week which I think should more than count for exercise. Vacuuming,  sweeping, mopping, cleaning bathrooms, dusting, etc. must do something because I was sore the next day!


My sister-in-law and I got a wild hair to go Brunette for the fall and winter yesterday. This would be my sister-in-law that I have been able to talk into cutting her hair with me, growing her hair out with me, but NEVER changing the color of her hair. Literally, I only know her with blond, blond hair. I am so proud of her for going out on a limb and trying something different. She looks amazing!

I wanted the new Ombre look myself so my amazing hairdresser Pam put just enough blond accent in there to blend with my Luxy hair extensions (in dirty blond) to give me an amazing Ombre look with them. I also have a great fall look in brown with red and blond accents without the Luxies. PERFECT! 

I purchased this little jewel at a consignment store on Hwy 491 called Lanie Bugs. I have been looking for a piece like this for my kitchen for several years! I love it! It could not have been more perfect for my kitchen.  I plan on painting the bottom of my barn table and bar stool seats to match the turquoise soon. I wanted a new kitchen table but my Papaw helped me pick it out when I first got married and it has years of homework marks, and tiny scratches from the boys that I just can't part with. The buffet/hutch makes a perfect serving piece for parties or just to display my favorite kitchen things. Bought a Rooster at "Frank Tank's" this past week too. I never thought I would like using a "rooster" for decorations but he was the perfect colors for my kitchen so I brought him home with me. 

I will be back in a few days to update you guys on how I am doing at the end of the week closer to day 24. Right now I am just ecstatic that my jeans button again after just 13 days. I also have some fall OOTD's to catch you up on. Side note: Super happy about watching the new Superman movie tonight, I a slight Super Hero obsession, in case you didn't know. Happy Saturday all!

The struggle is real...

Hi Friends! It has been a while. My life has just been so busy I haven't had a chance to blog. We have celebrated 6 birthday, been to see the New Orleans Saints play, went to Tuscaloosa to Alabama's homecoming game, had a fall festival at church, Halloween, and many many other things. I have thought all morning about posting this blog post. I have been struggling with my weight, with exercise, with schedules, everything. I woke up this morning knowing I was starting an AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge but had an immediate feeling of defeat and self-pity. Why? Because I knew I couldn't have a diet coke? Get a grip Kellie! Which leads me to this...

I am sure some of your are dying three deaths right now because I put the scales on here. Lady's never tell their weight right? I mean my license still says 120, which is what I gave them when I got my very first license. All these years when the lady would ask has anything changed, "No ma'm". Liar, liar pants on fire! So why am I telling or "showing" you this? Because the struggle is real. Anyone that knows me knows that what you see is what you get. I don't do drama or fake. So this is it. Plain and simple. I have allowed "life" to totally de-rail my train, AGAIN. This is not what I had pictured for myself back mid-September (picture to the left wearing jeans I can not button and a shirt I can't get past my, well you know, at the moment) when I was totally "on" and motivated to get the weight I had put back on off and become healthier and more fit than ever. I thought I would have been at my magical goal weight and size right now. I had every intention to be. To have "Kelly Ripa" arms, fit in a pair of size 6 jeans, and most importantly be in the physical condition I needed to have been in to run my first 5k. The reality is I am not. I am further away than I was this time last year. What is even more real is that I will not ever, EVER, be able to eat cake everyday of my life, stop exercising, or most importantly not give my body proper nutrition and supplements and expect to  maintain a healthy, fit body. So if telling you this helps you to realize that you are not alone then that is my intention here. It is not to say "look at me", it is to say look at me, I struggle too.

If you think for one second AdvoCare products won't help you let me remind you where I was just a short period of time ago. This is when I was on product regimen, eating the "AdvoCare" way, not drinking sodas, and exercising at least 3-5 times a week for 30 minutes. It is not that I stopped using the products. I would hate to know where I would be right now if I hadn't been using the products at least sporadically here and there. This happened because of my choice to abuse my healthy lifestyle and kid myself into thinking I could just do what I wanted for a while. That because of stress and circumstances I "deserved" a break and just couldn't "diet" with everything going on. I read the statement "You are not a dog, do not reward yourself with food" on Pinterest I think under motivational quotes. That statement offended me. I was like if I want to reward myself with a GiGi's cupcake then by george I could. It was my calories and I would do with them what I please. However, it dawned on me this past week...that attitude is the same attitude that got me in this position in the first place. At 235 pounds, with mountain dew "As long as I am not over my calories for the day why does it matter that I drink them", at 195 and stuck at a plateau, "Diet drinks and don't have calories  and 100 calorie packs of cookies are only 100 calories so what does it hurt?". Don't get me wrong. I will eat a cupcake again. I will drink a diet coke again. I am not perfect nor will I ever be. I just have to come up with a way to "treat" or "reward" myself with something other than food when I'm "good". Make sense? 

So back to the struggle. I told you that today is day one of my challenge and I wasn't pumped, motivated, excited, or happy at all about starting today. I entered my team's "Drop a Pumpkin" by Thanksgiving Challenge and today was the very last day to start a challenge and still be eligible to compete. Although it was all I could do not to pop that can top seconds after my feet hit the floor this morning (had 2 left in a 12 pack of diet coke that I almost drank at midnight last night like I was going into surgery or something and couldn't eat or drink after midnight) I didn't do it. I mixed up the fiber drink to start the cleanse process and chugged that baby down. It's 2:25 p.m. and I think I have seen 15 food commercials, mainly Pizza Hut stuffed crust pizza commercials. Am I making it? Yes. Am I struggling? Not really. It is amazing how much better I feel after just one fiber drink,  a clean, healthy breakfast, catalyst, a clean, healthy lunch, and a spark. I have decided to read scripture from the Bible if I get really "hungry". Hungry meaning bored and just wanting graze and cabinet surf not truly hungry. The truth is you don't get "hungry" on a challenge if you follow the checklist and eat when you are supposed to. I feel like this is an opportunity to not only get my body in shape but work on my walk as a Christian as well. That is enough to make anyone feel unstoppable.

My plan is to blog about my progress. They may be short quick posts but hopefully I can squeeze in some posts and motivation for you guys. Here is my product regimen during a challenge. 

My 10 Day Cleanse Phase Product Regimen:

Days 1-3

30 minutes before breakfast: Fiber Drink

10:30: Catalyst, Spark

3:00: Catalyst, Spark

After Dinner: Omegaplex

Before bed: Herbal Cleanse Caplets

Days 4-7

30 minutes before breakfast: Pro-Biotic Restore

10:30: Catalyst, Spark

3:00: Catalyst, Spark

After Dinner: Omegaplex

Before bed: Herbal Cleanse Caplets

Days 8-10

30 minutes before breakfast: Pro-Biotic Restore & Fiber Drink

10:30: Catalyst, Spark

3:00: Catalyst, Spark

After Dinner: Omegaplex

My 14 Day Max Phase Product Regimen:

Days 11-24

30 minutes before breakfast: Before Breakfast MNS packet

After Breakfast: Two after meal MNS packets

10:30: Catalyst, Spark

30 minutes before lunch: Before lunch MNS packet

3:00: Catalyst, Spark

Before Dinner: Carb-Ease

After Dinner: Omegaplex

If you want to know more about the AdvoCare 24 Day challenge click the link below or find me on facebook. I am more than happy to help you get started with AdvoCare. It has made such an amazing difference in my life, it can for you too! 

ADVOCARE 24 Day Challenge INFORMATION