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

Let's Catch Up!

This week has been crazy busy. I will start with Tuesday...

Tuesday, after work would be when I was frantically trying to clean my house because I had a Girl's Night Spa scheduled at my house on Thursday. You see when you are as busy as we are you tend to treat your house like a hotel. Come in, throw your stuff down, eat, shower, sleep, get up, get dressed, leave, and repeat. It was looking like the "maid" forgot to show up. Needless to say, I couldn't do any talking on Tuesday!

Since I am the maid at my house I took a personal day off of work on Wednesday to to finish cleaning. I will spare you that Workin' Girl Wednesday Outfit of the Day. I am pretty sure you all have an old pair of "ratchet" shorts and one of your husband's old baseball t-shirts with bleach stains that you wear to clean in. I am also pretty sure you don't care to know where mine was purchased either. I did post an #OOTD #WorkinGirl outfit at the bottom from today.

SHOUT OUT TO THE HUBS:

So, Chad worked like hired help this week to help me get the house in decent shape inside and out. To me there is nothing hotter than a man that will run a vacuum as well as a lawnmower. Love and appreciate you Chad:)

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

My precious friend Rebecca had asked me to be in another commercial for her amazing boutique, Glitz & Glamour. Clean house or not, I wasn't going to miss that! I finished as much as I could, hid some stuff in the closet, and started getting ready for the commercial. I went to Meridian to shoot the commercial. It was so much fun. We went to City Hall for the shoot. I personally thought it was really cool to have the opportunity to be in a commercial shot at the City Hall building of my Hometown. All of the "Glitz" girls were so "Presh" as Rebecca says. She had each of us styled perfectly. I love that she has clothes for all ages, shapes, and sizes. She is not afraid to think outside the box and bring a great look to her Meridian girls. She has some amazing new fall pieces in! You must like her on Facebook and definitely go by if you have the chance.

Here is the finished product! Look for it during Dancing With the Stars
next week on WTOK Channel 11!

Here are some pics from the shoot!

#OOTD #FASHIONFILE #GLITZGIRL

                                   Dress by Uncle Frank/Ivy Jane boots by Nature Breeze

Thursday night I hosted a Beauty Control Spa for a very sweet Friend, Spa Lady Lisa. I spent two hours with some precious family and friends doing facials, treating our skin to hand scrubs, lotions, and detox treatments. It was so nice to just chill. We had a great time and my niece Hailey Brooke snagged some funny photos while we had our lip "masks" on. I would put the other pics up but they may never come back to my house again if I do! HA! If you have never hosted a SPA DO IT! Lisa is a fabulous Spa Lady, she would love to help you and your girl friends spend a relaxing night together. You will be refreshed and so glad you did it! I can give you her contact info just ask!

Friday was School picture day and GAME DAY. I have not felt 100% this week. Probably due to running in MS heat in the middle of ragweed blooming season on Monday. I don't want to get worse and sitting out in the night air would not have been good. So no Game Day Glam for me this week. I spent the afternoon with my Lan Man just chillaxin' and watching movies. We watched the Life of Pi. It was an amazing movie. I highly recommend it to watch with your children. I was with my Tornadoes in spirit though. They played their hearts out last night. Tough loss but our heads are high and so is our spirit! #GOPHILLY #ALLTHEWAYTOSTATE

This leads us to today, Saturday. It is beautiful here in Mississippi today. College Football day! (Roll Tide Roll) Chad and I are hosting movie night for the Children's Ministry at church tonight. Our theme, football! The kids will dress in their favorite team apparel. We will have games, face painting, a bible story, hot dogs and snacks, and watch Air Bud: Golden Receiver. Can't wait to spend some time with my little munchkins!

I will try to do a better job blogging next week. I haven't had time to blog, or to exercise. I was kind of beating my self up about this but according to the My Fitness Pal Ap cleaning burns calories. I have burnt some calories this week! Being honest again...when I am not feeling great it is so hard for me to exercise and stay on track with my diet. I just want to taste food, mostly food that is not on the "plan". Does anyone else have that problem? I am back on my Arms mission starting today. I am running out of time. I may have to extend my goal deadline. Which leads me to my final thought for the day. I had a long conversation with someone yesterday about taking it a day at a time, a meal at a time, a choice at a time. Looking at the overall can be overwhelming at times. If you had told me two years ago that I would have lost 76 pounds and be any where near the size I am not, or at the fitness level I am at I would have laughed in your face. Truth is, I never really thought that I was capable, that I had that kind of will power. I didn't really set out to lose a certain amount, or be able to run 2 or 3 miles non-stop. I started out wanting to lose some weight, get control of my blood pressure, and be more happy in my clothes. Those little steps turned into strides, the strides into a jog, the jog into a run. The thing is there is no finish line. It is a non-ending marathon. Some days you sprint, others you drag yourself 5 inches. It's not the end of the world if you have to adjust your goals, it's a lifelong process. The important thing to remember is that any movement forward is movement in the RIGHT direction. You can do this, I can do this. One step at a time.

MOVE IT MONDAY

HITTING THE PAVEMENT

Well I can definitely say that I "moved" it today. We participated in MS FCA's MS Glowing for Christ Cross Walk over 11 miles of Neshoba County, with 18 student Athletes. We started at Stallo and ended up at the Court House Downtown. What a way to show that they are not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ! No, i didn't walk or run the 11 miles. The kids divided in groups of two and alternated turns throughout the whole trek carrying a cross on foot. Most all of our kids jogged their entire time. I did however, run, walk, and sweat. Have you people been to Mississippi in September?

All smiles at the start! 

 

My son Peyton and his friend Cody, or C- Ody as they call him, started off with a bang. They took off like they were in a relay race. Our intention was to walk behind them and the vehicle carrying the other kids and get in and out and rest in between transitions. This, however, did not happen to start with. Because they went so fast, so did the vehicles. So for about two miles Chad and I were pretty much sprinting up the highway. It was a site! I do have to mention that I was pretty proud of myself. I have never, ever been able to "hang" with Chad when he runs. I held my own, wasn't completely winded, pushed myself, and was actually okay.   

INSERT ADVOCARE COMMERCIAL: 3 CATALYST AND A SPARK PRIOR TO TAKE OFF!

I could have gone further but there was no way to catch those kids and I needed my eyeballs on them. Luckily, Wesley (our school athletic trainer) came up and asked if we were running the whole 11! Chad said it wasn't luck, he was praying Dear Lord send someone in a truck to pick me up! He said it was like an angel just appeared from Heaven. We spent the rest of the day in the back of a truck making pics, encouraging kids, and having a great, sweaty, time! It was a blessing to be a part of this event. Makes me want to really start training hard for my first 5K. I believe I can do it now, that it is possible. I know I have some work to do to train but I am closer than I have ever been to committing to one! Chad was super happy about being in the truck at this point! 

My hat blew off and landed in the middle of the Highway! Thanks MK for picking it up and bringing it to me! 

Peyton and Cody carrying the Cross again once we made it closer to town.

The entire student body at PHS and PJH came out to support our FCA students!

I am one proud Soccer mom. Peyton is first and foremost a Christian. He is a Varsity Athlete in Soccer & Track. He is also on the Archery Team and trying out for the bowling team.

They were still all smiles at the finish! Proud of each of them for doing this today!

Way to go MS Fellowship of Christian Athletes for sponsoring this across the entire 82 counties of our great state! They may have taken our God out of schools but they can't take Him out of our hearts.  Thank you so much to Jason Wells, District 4 Director for getting out and carrying the cross with our kids! I especially want to thank Coach Adam Huddleston for being our FCA leader at Philadelphia and getting this together for our kids. Special thanks to Wesley Haggard for picking up us two hitchhikers! 

So for anyone that says "Oh I can't run", or "I'm not a runner"...I am not a runner either, I thought I couldn't run too. Our bodies are amazing and if conditioned properly it is pretty cool how much we are capable of! It's Monday so MOVE IT!

SUNDAY IN THE SOUTH

Scripture of the Day

This scripture was read in Discipleship Training tonight at church and really spoke to me. Some things have happened over the last few weeks that the scripture reminded me of.

John 15:18-25

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁸ If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you.

¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world [no longer one with it], but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you.

²⁰ Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his master [is not superior to him]. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word and obeyed My teachings, they will also keep and obey yours.

²¹ But they will do all this to you [inflict all this suffering on you] because of [your bearing] My name and on My account, for they do not know or understand the One Who sent Me.

²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin [would be blameless]; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

²³ Whoever hates Me also hates My Father.

²⁴ If I had not done (accomplished) among them the works which no one else ever did, they would not be guilty of sin. But [the fact is] now they have both seen [these works] and have hated both Me and My Father.

²⁵ But [this is so] that the word written in their Law might be fulfilled, They hated Me without a cause.

Food for thought...

HAPPY GRANDPARENT'S DAY

Today is Grandparent's Day. This Sunday in the South post is dedicated to my grandparents and my boys grandparents. My boys have no idea how lucky they are. They have two amazing sets of grandparents that love them unconditionally and have been a part of their lives since day 1. Each one of them has a special bond with both of my children and for that I am eternally grateful. I love y'all so much and I appreciate how you love my babies. I hope one day to be the kind of grandparent all of you are. 

My Parent's

Chad's Parents

Words can not express how blessed I am to be almost 34 years old and still have my Granny in my life. I have spent a lot of time with her over the years. She has been with me on shopping trips, she has made costumes, watched me in recitals and plays, watched me cheer, heard me sing, hung every picture I ever gave her on her famous refrigerator. Made me special pancakes (the size of the pan), bacon and hoop cheese with maple syrup breakfast when I was in college, and homemade chicken noodle soup just a few years ago when I had surgery. She is one special woman and I am so thankful for her.  

       

My Papaw Buford (Mama's daddy), and my Memaw  (Daddy's Mama) has gone on to Heaven. I would give anything if I could talk to him just one more time here on earth. For him to see my boys and have conversations with Peyton about trucks and parts, to have Landon out talk him, and out do him on blessing the food prayers. I would love to see MeMaws face while Landon told her a wild story or hear her ask Peyton where he got them long legs from.  I have peace in knowing one sweet day that it will happen. Also, I don't have a picture of him, I never met him. I know my daddy looks alot like him. I know how much I love my daddy, so I am pretty sure I would have just loved him to pieces too. He passed away when I was a baby. My daddy's daddy, I think I probably would have called him Poppa Joe. I don't know. One day I will get the chance...

..

Happy Grandparent's Day in Heaven to all of you.

#OOTD #SUNDAYINTHESOUTH

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES! When Rebecca posted this online I told her it was a necessity! It can be worn with nude heels in the spring and summer or with boots (as pictured) in the fall. It is the perfect transition dress!

Red-Coral and Turquoise Chevron Dress by from Glitz & Glamour in Meridian, MS. Brown Cowboy Boots with Turquoise Trim by Safari from Name Brand Discount Shoes in Meridian, MS. Turquoise and Coral Rhinestone Earrings by Lane Bryant.

Last but not least....

WHO DAT...NOT THE DIRTY BIRDS! 

GAME DAY GLAM

WHO DAT NATION! 

In honor of the New Orleans Saints season opener I wanted to show you some of my favorite Game Day Glam looks for Rocking the Super Dome! I literally hung my body and a portion of the jersey I had on my body over the banister for Drew's signature at the last game we went to (2010).

 The boys hung their bodies over for and handshake and a signature as well. David Thomas had thrown the boys his gloves so Drew signed those too! If it wouldn't have washed off I am pretty sure we would have let him sign our bodies!

We love us some Drew Brees! 

 Family of Who Datter's! Look how little they were. Oh my word my babies have grown. I have shrunk! Yay me! I was using the "stick a kid in front of me" method here:) Lol, look at their little faces though. Awesome memories!

We play the dirty birds from Atlanta, YUCK! Needless to say the hubs is PUMPED about the game Sunday and about seeing Sean Payton back in action! GEAUX SAINTS! 

Yesterday was Hillbilly Day. Now when I think of Hillbilly I think of The Beverly Hillbillies.

 

Ellie May is about as far into this dress up day as I am willing to go. 

My country boys on the other hand ate this up!

#OOTD #GameDayGlam #PhillyvsNC #RivalryWeek

Black and white chevron maxi with black and silver bubble earrings from Jewelry Just 4 Fun. Black and silver Lily &Laura Bracelets from Glitz & Glamour. Black gladiator sandals by Micheal Antonis from Shoe Station. 

Me and My Philly Sweetie at the game last night. He does an amazing job giving play by play info to all of our Philadelphia Facebook Fans! 

Last night was the is the big game. Philadelphia faced off in a game against our cross-town rival Neshoba Central. It was hot, humid, and so crowded. We won 41-0, but most importantly it was a great game and everyone showed a tremendous amount of sportsmanship and respect. Looks like the tradition will continue! 

Prayers for #15 for the Tornadoes. Malek was injured last night. Praying for healing and speedy recovery! 

ROLL TORNADOES!

SNEAK PEEK:

Plus Size Fall Fashion Preview

So many of my sweet friends want to know where I shop now and were I shopped prior to losing weight. I recieved a catalog from one of my favorite plus size shops in the mail this morning and absolutely LOVED some of their fall fashion pieces. I wanted to share them with you. I will be doing a Fall Fashion Post soon and will include more info on where to find amazing pieces for all sizes.

Fall Fashion It List by Lane Bryant