Step 1-Take inventory

Over the course of the first 3 days of this diet, I took inventory of the current way I have been eating, sleeping and working out. I wrote down everything, I cleaned my fridge and I shopped for groceries and supplements of a higher caliber.. some of which I've showed you already, but if the diet is a success, I will certainly share in more detail. The most important part of this step is to thoroughly find out what you've already been doing (both good and bad). In a super small nut shell, I've explained this step below.


Taking Inventory

Losing weight is a simple enough equation, right? If you want to lose weight, you eat less and move more. Using this common sense, I'm going to challenge you to not only do just that, but do it in a way that lasts forever. There is no point in doing a 'crash diet' to simply go back to your normal routines and gain back double the weight a month later. So, with this challenge.. you will take 7 steps (3 days each) slowly and carefully making improvements to YOUR own personal plan. If you follow along each step openly and honestly, I promise you will learn & improve along the way. You will not 'lose 5lbs in the first week'. However, you will determine your own personal goals and steadily and surely meet those goals by the end of the 21 days.

The first step is taking inventory.
This includes 4 simple questions. What/How do you currently eat?? What supplements do you use? How/When do you exercise?? What are your downfalls/known bad habits that hold you back??

My inventory (again in a super small nut shell) is written below.

1. Food~ I had the realization that I LOVE to cook and I love food in general. I'm Italian and my sense of worth as a mother and wife comes, so greatly, from preparing my family a dinner that they enjoy, each and every night. So, I'm determined to find a way to continue cooking delicious meals for my family, but turning them into healthy options. 

2. Supplements~ As I've stated before, my little sister is doing the Advocare 24 day challenge & when I found out that it costs 199 dollars, I was floored!! I am determined to find supplements that are pretty much the same (the vitamins, shakes, etc) but at a much lower cost and more accessible to everyone. What I used prior to the challenge?? Chewy vitamins... lost of them.. all day, everyday... obviously, I need to do some research and determine the benefit/risk of candy vitamins as opposed to pills or drink mixes. 

3. Exercise~ Well, this is the one category that I'm not ashamed to discuss, because I think of myself as a pretty active person. I run, almost everyday & if not, at least take a walk of some sort. So, why then am I still so unsatisfied with the shape of my body? My legs are fabulous, strong and muscular. However, my belly is ... well, a mom belly & everywhere else is just ... loose, I guess is the word?? I'd like to start incorporating a variety of exercises to my every day routine along with the improvement to my actual diet. 

4. Bad Habits~ Soda, candy, napping, candy, candy and more candy!! Seriously, I have a consuming candy addiction!! If I didn't run everyday, I'd probably be 300lbs!! I know I need to cut back on my candy intake, but I don't believe in giving anything up for good, especially something that you love?? Truth?? You won't stick to a diet that completely excludes anything that you love. So, there are No No's in this diet.. yes, I repeat.. I believe everything in moderation is acceptable and in fact, even necessary for a well-balanced diet. Any diet that excludes an entire food group is especially BAD news!!! However, that's an entirely different chapter. My bad habits are candy, soda and a long daily nap.. I hope to slowly and successfully wean myself from needing all 3 everyday.

Work in progress

Because my diet is created for me, by me.. it is a work in progress. I've decided to change it from a 24 day diet to a 21 day diet, so it'll be an even 3 weeks & I can divide the days evenly and being a huge math dork.. I need to be able to divide. I've divided this diet into a 7 step program, each step is 3 days long. I figure.. anyone can get anything done in 3 days, right?

Play with your kids!!

Exercising doesn't have to be technical, done at gym or cause you great deals of stress to be successful. As a matter of fact, my favorite form of exercise has always been simple... play with your kids. This is why I was my thinnest when my girls were babies and toddlers. Babies make excellent weights!! Besides, how hard is it to have fun while you are watching your kids laugh?? Not hard at all.. Seeing my children light up has always brought a smile to my face, so when they were young.. I played & played.. just to make them laugh and in turn, had rock arm arm muscles, great abs. However, as they have gotten older, they've become more independent. They began to entertain themselves and in turn, I became lazy.

Well, during this challenge.. I am challenging myself to one of my old favorites.. I am going to play with my kids more! Yesterday, I took a "fun run" with my girls (whom are now 11 & 13 and usually too cool to hang with Mom). We raced, we walked and most fun.. we talked!! At the park, instead of sitting on the bench looking and the never-changing newsfeed of facebook, I actually got on the swings & dared to swing higher and higher with the girls focusing on my ab muscles with each swing. The most fun that we had, however, was when we got home.. I actually jumped on the trampoline. There is no faster way to feel like a kid again then to play like one, if possible with one!!

So, to all my fellow mother's out there, on this very gorgeous and warm Mother's Day weekend.. I urge you to play with your kids!! They will love your for it and you will love your post-play body =)

The supplements

The added 'supplements' I've found to add to my daily diet are delicious & super cheap! I found both at Costco & both around 10 for the entire months supply. The top one is Chia seeds in a squeeze format. Now, the texture of chia seeds isn't the best but they are a amazing super food. I love them in this version because I can quickly swallow then down in three big sips & not taste the seeds at all, just the yummy after flavor of great juice.

The bottom picture is my 'energy' drink. What's great about this mix is that you can mix it with only 2 ounces of water (like a shot glass sized amount of water) stir & as soon as it's done fizzing, take it like a shot. It tastes sour, like the old fashioned chewable vitamin c's (which I love) & follow it up with a big glass of water. There is so much vitamin c & all the vitamin b's that you get an instant charge of energy that doesn't drop you on your head a few hours later!!

So, those are my supplemental supplements.. total cost, under 25 for the months supply & so far, working great!!

Day 1... let's get real!!

Hey, at least it doesn't say 145 today. On some molecular level, 144.6 is better than 145, right? Ok, not really. Well, now you know why (aside from simply beating my sister), I must do this diet! I am so tired of seeing the scale read between 145 & later at night closer to 150. I don't feel like 145. I've been 120 since high school, well into my 30's.. I was always 120ish. But, for some reason... ok, I know the reasons... since I stopped working and became a full-time mom, the scale has crept up and up & it has to stop! Better yet, I'd like to reverse what my sedentary life has done to me. Wait, I can exude more confidence than that.. I Will reverse the scale!!

I'm going to lose this weight the simple, old fashioned way..no fad diets, no expensive supplements, just good old...eat less/move more. Ok, so that sounds really easy &I know, for most of us.. it never works out that way. So, I've developed a plan of action that even the laziest of us (mmm me) can stick to & find success.

I hope you follow along find success for yourself as well. Today, day one.. the rule is simple.. actually this is the rule of everyday of this diet. Today, I have to eat better & move more than I did yesterday.. simple, right? Well, considering yesterday was my sort of 'fat Wednesday' pre diet day. Including candy bars& fast food & no exercise..yes, today should be easy.

Wish me luck ;)

24 day challenge for me by ME

Ok, so the name is obviously still a work in progress considering that no one would be interested in reading, trying and definitely not buying a diet plan named "20 day challenge for me by me" However, the general idea is this.. My sister, Michelle is getting ready to start a diet plan by Advocare called the "Advocare 24 day challenge". The basic idea of the program is the similar to most.. a special diet and exercise. The only difference is that with this program, you have to buy nutritional supplements (vitamins and powdered shake mixes).

I considered purchasing and eventually selling these products to go along with my own personal training program. However, these products are similar to what is offered over the counter and significantly more expensive. So, I've decided that while she tests these products on her 24 day challenge, I will be the control group. I want to go on a 24 day challenge and develop my own diet, exercise routines & store bought supplements. I'm going head to head with my sister (which is always fun and exciting) and with advocare.

If, at the end of this journey, I've succeeded at my personal goal (to lose 15 pounds and generally tone up all the lose ends) without advocare then I will write & publish my plan to share with everyone on a professional level as part of my training program. Those potential clients that have the luxury of living close to me will, of course, get the full personal training package complete with bi-weekly exercise sessions and unlimited text/email support for the coaching aspect. However, for those who wish to follow my plan from elsewhere in the world, I will ideally have the basic outline of program ready to go by the end of these 20 days.
 Win-Win, no??

At the other end of the spectrum and a the very unlikely event that my sister actually beats me in this challenge, then I will admit the advocare supplements are worth the extra buck & sell them with complete confidence to my clients. I wouldn't be able to sell anything any other way, honestly.

So, tomorrow is the day!! The day will bring the beginning of hard work and dedication. I am glad to be competing with my sister, I can think of no better adversary. Good luck, Michelle... Good luck, Advocare... It's ON!!!

Feeling grateful

Well, we've gotten through my birthday. Which, by the way, ended up actually being nice this year. Jonathon & the girls spoiled me with gifts & made the day special for me. Then, Madi's actual birthday was nice... busy because of the unexpected visit of Peyton& Sully but nice nonetheless. I, of course, spoiled her with gifts & that always feels great. However, what I'm really feeling grateful for is her birthday party.

It's so easy to feel grateful this time of the year because less than 5 years ago, I was very sick. I was so sick that I spent weeks at a time in the hospital & was even in the icu after having surgery on the day of Madi's 'best birthday party ever'. I, did, however plan this party. I invited all of her friends very secretive. Planned exactly how she would be taken to the park with her best friend while her entire class snuck over to the party after school. I made it all prefect & then ended up having emergency surgery & missing the whole thing.

While it was all very sad, it makes it really easy to feel grateful on the day off Madi's birthday party every year since, along with every day...really.

Thank you God for my continued health. It may not be perfect. I may have my limitations, but today... I will attend my daughter's birthday party & for that, I am so grateful. Amen