AdvoCare 24-Day Challenge: Day 1

Have you heard of AdvoCare?

Recently, I was introduced to the company and at first, I was skeptical. What can I say? Skepticism runs through my blood.

However, as many of you know, I started a weight-loss journey in August 2014. While the first two months were wonderful, I started getting discouraged when the weight just wasn't coming off anymore. Sadly, I fell off the wagon in late October, early November. Let's just say that Thanksgiving didn't do anything to help make it any better.

I knew in my heart that I needed a boost. I was struggling to stay motivated and on the verge of completely giving up. This is why, when I was approached and asked to participate in the AdvoCare 24-Day Challenge, I happily obliged. I needed a change and I'm willing to try anything once.

* Product and/or service provided for review without cost.

Today was the first day of the AdvoCare 24-Day Challenge for me. There was a lot to take in, but now that it's the end of the day, I know more of what to expect in the days to come.

Below, you'll see my "before" pictures.

The AdvoCare 24-Day Challenge consists of two phases: The Cleanse Phase and The Max Phase. I'll go over these phases in a little more detail in my upcoming posts.

Today, I'm going to touch on what my first day of the AdvoCare 24-Day Challenge looked like.

Morning

1. Start the day with an AdvoCare Spark.

I tried the Spark Fruit Punch and I am pretty impressed with it. It's delicious (tastes just like fruit punch) and within 15 to 20 minutes, I felt more alert. That was very surprising to me. What surprised me even more was that a few hours after having drank it, I didn't crash like I typically do with energy drinks (Monster, Red Bull, etc.).

2. Take a dose of Catalyst.

I took three of the Catalyst Amino Acid Dietary Supplements. It should be noted that Catalyst is a companion product and while not a "typical" part of the 24-Day Challenge, it was recommended by my AdvoCare Coach who told me she wouldn't let anyone do a challenge without it. She's been doing this for awhile and I trust her word.

3. Chug that AdvoCare Fiber Drink!

While researching AdvoCare before participating in the challenge, I read quite a bit about the "dreaded fiber drink." To be honest, I didn't think it was as bad as everyone makes it out to be. I suppose the texture is a little odd (sort of like if you were to pour grass seed in a glass of water and then drink it), but the taste isn't bad. My AdvoCare Coach suggested drinking it quickly (it thickens upon standing) and then washing it down with more water. If you can get over the texture, you're good to go!

4. Eat breakfast, or have an AdvoCare Meal Replacement Shake.

Now, I don't know about you, but I'm not much of a breakfast person. At all. This is why the Meal Replacement Shake really works for me. I was able to try the Chocolate Mocha, and boy, let me tell you, that stuff is DELICIOUS! To be honest, I was kind of bummed out that I can only have one per day. Ha!

Mid-Morning

By mid-morning, you might start getting hungry, so go ahead and have a snack. The AdvoCare 24-Day Challenge Daily Guide suggests healthy fats (in moderation) such as an avocado, nut butter (with no added sugar, oil, or salt), nuts or seeds (raw or roasted with no added sugar, oil, or salt), or fruit such as an apple, banana, pear, and so on. You can also have dairy in moderation, such as plain yogurt (low fat or nonfat), skim milk, or low-fat cheese. I opted for apple slices with about 1/4 cup of nonfat plain yogurt.

Afternoon

An hour or so after your mid-morning snack, you'll want to have lunch. What I love the most about this challenge so far is that you don't starve yourself. Many of the other "diet" methods that I've tried have left me feeling hungry all day long. That was not the case with AdvoCare.

For lunch, you can have lean protein (four to six ounces), vegetables (one cup raw or cooked, or two cups of leafy greens), and a complex carb (beans, lentils, oatmeal, whole grains, etc.). I decided to have reduced fat turkey breast deli meat (with a small amount of mustard) with two cups of baby spinach and 1/2 of a whole-wheat bagel. I grated a very small amount of reduced fat feta cheese to my baby spinach to add a little flavor and drizzled it with a little EVOO.

Mid-Afternoon

The AdvoCare 24-Day Challenge Daily Guide suggests having another AdvoCare Spark (if needed) and to take another dose of Catalyst (optional) about 30 minutes before your snack. My AdvoCare Coach suggested I take the Catalyst 30 minutes before I workout in the evening, so I did that instead.

In between lunch and dinner, I had an AdvoBar--the gingerbread kind--and oh. my. gosh. Those things are absolutely amazing. I really did not feel like I was eating something good for me. It held me over until dinner and satisfied my sweet tooth!

Evening

Before dinner, I took my OmegaPlex. I decided on having 1/2 bagel with chicken, a spinach salad with a little bit of diced tomatoes, and two mini sweet peppers stuffed with homemade southern-style black bean hummus.

Note: My food will get more creative with more variety (and I'll be doing hot meals for dinner) as I go on. Right now, I'm still experimenting and looking into recipes. I think I'll do something with rice tomorrow!

If you're interested in the black bean hummus, it's pretty easy. Just a little recipe I came across on Pinterest.

Put your beans in a food processor.

Squeeze in a little lemon juice.

Add a dash or two of red crushed pepper and cumin.

Mix it up!

After Dinner/Before Bed

I work out in the evenings before dinner, but today, I was a bit late due to other obligations. I finally was able to get my cardio in after eating: 30 minutes, 12 seconds and 354 calories burned!

After working out, I had a Rehydrate (an AdvoCare companion product, similar to Gatorade that helps restore electrolytes).

After working out, I relaxed for a bit and then had a medium-sized banana.

Bedtime

Now, that I'm ready for bed, I'm going to take my Herbal Cleanse Caplets and another dose of Catalyst. Then, I'll be off to dream land and ready to start again tomorrow!

If you're interested in trying the 24-Day Challenge for yourself, then head on over to the website and check out the products!

Keep checking back for more updates on my experience with the AdvoCare 24-Day Challenge!