Day Fifteen

I can't believe it's already Day 15 and I haven't posted since Day 8.

Days 9 and 10
Day 9 and 10 of the cleanse were much the same as Day 8, getting better and less side effects. I started eating more and that made me feel a lot better - less jittery and calmer.

Day 11
I celebrated the end of the cleanse, on Day 11, with a vodka soda and a steak. I felt awesome but I did feel a little bloated after that ;-) Based on weighing myself two or three times since the beginning (but always at different times of the day, with different amounts of food in my belly!) I've probably lost about 6 pounds so far. That's not too bad, as I started out not expecting or really even wanting to lose more than 10. It's the toning and burning that top layer of fat that are my end goals.

Day 12
The first day of the second part of this challenge was pretty rough. There are so many nutritional supplements that you have to add in, it all ganged up on my system (I'm super sensitive anyway) and made me feel awful. I was jittery again, but way worse than before. I just felt overloaded, and I did not sleep at all the night between Day 13-14. I woke up every 2 hours. I talked to my coach and he suggested spacing out some of the supplements. I did that, and I didn't feel like I was getting any results. I suppose I'm impatient. Another reason I felt sluggish on those days (in comparison to how I felt during the cleanse) could be because I went to a dinner party the evening of Day 12 and drank sake (about 3 drinks worth) which, along with the vodka soda I had on Day 11, probably caused or at least contributed to the sluggish feelings and lack of quality sleep. I probably should avoid alcohol for the entire 24 days, but since I'm headed to California this weekend I think it's unlikely that's going to happen. Maybe I'll stick with one drink though, instead of three. I couldn't handle three drinks BEFORE this challenge, so I don't know what on earth made me think I could handle that many during it.

Day 15
I went back to taking the supplements as suggested on the "burn and refuel" worksheet. (Three days no starchy carbs or fruit, one day they're allowed, and repeat for 14 days.) I am, of course, jittery and hungry again. I tried cutting out carbs and managed most of the day on salad, cashews, turkey meatballs, peanut butter, and a meal replacement shake ("Vega" - not the Advocare brand as I don't eat dairy), but having just been to a step aerobics class and leaving 20 minutes early due to lack of energy (and listening to my gut about it this time - I'm not twisting my ankle again) I have decided the "burn and refuel" instructions just aren't for me. So, I will be eating a small portion of rice noodles with my turkey meatballs for dinner. I start a 2 month boot camp again tomorrow morning and I know how much energy it requires, so I'm ok with my decision. 6 lbs weight loss in 15 days is acceptable.

Now it's time to get back to my crazy exercise routine and gain some muscle tone back!

All I can think about right now is:

1. A big chocolate cupcake (that is sooo happening this weekend when I get to California - there's apparently a gluten free sandwich shop/bakery in Encinitas?)
2. The beach. I need some sun.
3. A massage! Also a manicure and a pedicure! Spa time!! Maybe next month...

Day Eight

I decided not to blog about Days 5-7 since they passed in a blur of pretty much the exact same side effects as the previous days, however, some of those side effects are reduced, and I have noticed some positive changes over the past day or two, including:

1. Skin - in general the skin on my face is clearer and brighter. I don't notice under eye circles as much (I have been sleeping better.)

2. Improved mood - I started eating a little more food - specifically a bit more carbohydrate (fruit, sweet potato, gluten free whole grain tortilla-wraps, lentil chips) which has taken care of my hunger problem, increased my energy and improved my overall mood. I went out to dinner with a group of friends on Saturday and I had a great time and laughed all night long, even though I didn't have a drop of alcohol! (We went to PF Changs, I had the ahi tuna salad and edamame. It is very difficult to eat at restaurants during the cleanse phase of this challenge, and I am sure some of the ingredients in the dressing on my salad were probably off limits. But I did the best that I could.)

3. Weight loss - I have lost 3-4 pounds in my estimation, although I haven't really been weighing myself or measuring. I just feel lighter, overall, and better about myself. I have more energy and feel more positive. The "cobwebs" are gone :-)

4. Heightened sense of smell and taste - It sounds strange, but my sense of taste has gone off the charts. I'm tasting much stronger flavors in things like basalmic vinegar, the mango salsa I made with dinner last night, and the carrot-lime-apple-ginger juice I had at breakfast on Saturday. Smells also seem to be stronger - all of a sudden my hairspray smells much sweeter (more sugary - from the alcohol and fragrances added) than usual.

5. Reduced sugar cravings - I'm not craving sugar throughout the day any longer! It's a Christmas miracle. I still crave it at night, but my husband and I agreed that's more out of habit - looking for something sweet to eat after dinner - than a craving. I believe increasing my carbohydrate intake (probably fruit in particular) has helped reduce my sugar cravings, or more specifically, chocolate - although on Saturday morning I woke up wanting a cinnamon roll!

Day Four

Sleep
I slept really well last night, for the first time, and woke up about an hour earlier than usual (6am) totally wide awake! That was a nice change. I drank half a package of Spark, 3 Catalyst pills, and the Probiotic Restore pills that start on Day 4.

Hunger
I decided to go to the pool at my gym, where I swam for 30 minutes. About 20 minutes in I got really hungry! I hadn't eaten anything before heading out, but typically I can exercise on an empty stomach that early in the morning without too much hunger. It must have been the combination of the Spark and the Catalyst. Supposedly the Catalyst pills can help you burn an extra 300 calories, so it makes sense. I definitely didn't eat enough today. I tracked my calories for the first time in a week or two, and I only ate about 1200. That's not enough for me. I wasn't trying to diet (although I do want to lose inches) so I need to be more careful that I'm getting enough food. I've said that every day, and I need to start implementing it. It's hard though because the extra calories I usually eat come from things like additional carbohydrate, added sugar, or fat. (Fat has 9 calories per gram, carbohydrate and protein have 4 calories per gram.) I just need to make it a priority.

Sugar Cravings
I crave sugar like CRAZY all day! I have to go to the store and buy some coconut water and a kiwi fruit out of sheer desperation. It sort of hits the spot, but a big piece of chocolate is in the back of my mind all day. I hope the sugar cravings pass soon!!

Exercise
Despite the horrifying before photos I took, I didn't actually plan to get "skinny" on this plan, just tone up and gain back some muscle (I plan to start working out after Day 10, when my ankle feels better. The bruising was all gone before I went swimming, but swimming made it come back again. I can't believe it's taking more than a month to heal. I didn't think I twisted it that badly!) Everything I've read suggests waiting until at least Day 3 to work out, but I had enough energy on Day 1 to work out - even though I didn't, I think I could have. It's important to just listen to your own body and do what you feel like you have enough energy for.

Skin
My skin is pretty bad today. I am looking forward to the end of the cleanse portion of the challenge so that it clears up. I'm obviously still getting rid of toxins.

Cutting down the Spark drink to only half a package a day, on waking, has eliminated most of the nervousness/irritability and reduced the headaches. I am also sleeping a lot better.

Day Three

Skin
Since my body is unloading toxins like crazy into my liver, my liver is angry with me and the skin on my face is a nightmare. This is nothing new for me, Rosacea causes these symptoms and even with mine pretty much under control, it still flares up every few months. It's not as bad as it has been in the past (maybe a half a dozen small, light red bumps that look like tiny pimples, mostly on my forehead and cheeks - other people probably wouldn't notice it, but aren't we all hypersensitive about our own appearance?) and luckily my favorite skin cream (Bioskinbalm - AMAZING herbal cream for sensitive skin/eczema/rosacea) came in the mail on Monday, so that helps soothe it. After the cleanse is over my skin should be better, although usually when I don't eat enough it gets angry with me too, so I'm hoping that doesn't have anything to do with it this time.

Appetite
I am definitely very hungry on Day 3. I make an effort to eat more food and more frequently, and it works. I do have a slight stomach ache today that lasts all day, but eating helps. I am, however, craving sugar - in a major way. I've read that Day 3 is the hardest day for sugar cravings. I didn't realize I was so addicted - I thought I ate pretty healthily already, and giving up sugar would be easy for me - I was wrong! Even if I only add honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar when I cook, bake or eat something that needs sweetening (as opposed to white table sugar, which I haven't used in over 5 years, but just as a basis for comparison) my body still seems to be addicted. I guess I can't use the fact that I'm eating "healthier" sugar as an excuse any more!

Sleep
I'm fairly tired around mid day and have to take a half hour nap. I don't drink any of my second Spark package in the afternoon - I'm sick of feeling nervous and irritable from the caffeine. I'd rather take a nap than be jittery and anxious all day! I get to sleep easily (around 9:30pm I fall asleep on the couch!) and sleep really well.

Headache
My headache is gone today - that is unexpected, considering my sugar cravings. But I'll take it!

Day Two

Headache/Dehydration:

Today started off with a bad headache, which I actually had last night too, and it lasted me through the night. I had some trouble sleeping, and woke up frequently. As soon as I woke up I drank half a package of Spark, and my headache went away. Caffeine related? I'm not sure. It may be a sugar craving, as I've definitely had too much sugar in my diet for at least the past year. I also woke up dehydrated, so that likely contributed to the headache as well. I drank about 20 ounces of water when I woke up. I bought some electrolyte water (love it!) today and will try to drink two 50 oz bottles a day. I hope when I get past the cleanse stage I won't have headaches, that way I'll know they're related to the toxins leaving my body, rather than caffeine withdrawals. My headache may also be due to all of the computer work I've been doing today, as it seems to be originating in my shoulders. If I still experience the headaches over the next few day, I will probably try eliminating the Spark - especially if the headaches (or added energy) continue to interrupt my sleep.


Eating Habits:

A little after 2pm on Day 2, I feel pretty good. I've eaten a protein shake for breakfast, and I eat lunch around 1:30, which takes care of the morning jitters. I end up feeling quite a bit better than the day before. I deal with a fair amount of hunger all morning, but my thoughts are that I'm definitely not eating as many calories as usual, not deliberately, but more because I'm being careful/thoughtful about what I'm eating (I thought I already paid close attention to that - I guess maybe not?) and also because the Spark has me so energized that I'm literally running around my house (not the best idea on a twisted ankle that's still healing, but I have never been able to keep still) and I end up getting too sidetracked and "busy" to eat. I've been working and running errands most of the day. I definitely need to make more time to eat.


Body Temperature:

In the late afternoon I am extremely cold. I seem to be experiencing more ups and downs in body temperature than usual on this cleanse. I am freezing at 3pm so I take a hot bath. This helps immediately and also eases my headache.


Nervousness:

Not surprisingly, I am dealing with a lot of nervous energy so far on this cleanse. I really don't like it. I blame the caffeine, added energy, and lack of calories (which is my own fault - I could easily eat 1600 calories in tuna, fruit, rice cakes, and vegetables if I put my mind to it.) I have made a note to focus more on getting rid of my nervousness by trying to relax and eating more frequently.


Evening:

By 4pm I am feeling really rough (what I would describe as very mild flu-like symptoms) and decide I probably need to eat more. An apple and almond butter fills my stomach but does nothing to help me feel better, and as the late evening approaches my headache returns with a vengeance and I am freezing again. I end up going to bed with a heating pad on my shoulders - luckily this makes me feel almost completely better and allows me to sleep.


Overall, today has kind of sucked. I hope tomorrow is better.

Day One

I just want to address a comment that a nutritionist left on my facebook status when I posted that I was trying Advocare and would be blogging about it. Her (quite valid) concern was about my choice to use supplements that contain "natural and artificial ingredients" (in the Herbal Cleanse) including sucralose, and a meal replacement shake that uses whey protein. (I don't eat dairy.) I replied that I was already aware of the presence of sucralose in the Spark energy drink, the whey protein, and the "artificial flavors" in the Herbal Cleanse. While I generally try to avoid these ingredients,  I am putting my faith in the team of scientists and medical experts who endorse Advocare. I will be using half as much Spark as the program recommends, due to a sensitivity to caffeine, which will reduce my sucralose intake.

From my limited research so far, it appears that sucralose is considered the "safest" of the artificial sweeteners, and is present in such a small amount in the products anyway that it is apparently unlikely to cause any adverse effects. Also, I will be substituting the Advocare protein shake for one I already use and know I can tolerate, Vega - a rice/pea protein blend (with lots of other nutrients) available at Whole Foods. Although I don't know how or whether this will affect the interaction of all the ingredients that have been formulated to work together during this challenge, the substitution will take care of my "dairy issue."

I love reading and learning about nutrition, and I always appreciate other people's feedback and comments. I will make it a priority to find out as much about the "artificial" ingredients and sucralose used in the products as I can. To me though, "artificial ingredients" seems to be a very broad term, and really could cover any number of ingredients, and lead to a whole other debate of what is considered "natural" food in this country. We could discuss the contraversial role of the FDA, or we could get into a conversation about stevia vs. sucralose vs. aspartame, etc - but since I'm definitely not a health expert, nutritionist, or doctor, and only have my own research and knowledge of my own body to go by, I can't really make any valid claims or statements - nor do I even really want to open up that can of worms here! I will simply check into Advocare's ingredients some more, and post anything here that I find interesting or consider important about what I learn.

Just keep in mind that everything I post is simply my opinion (educated or otherwise) and everyone else is entitled to theirs.


Moving on, here are my notes about Day 1:


SPARK:
I followed the directions and drank a package of the Spark energy booster upon waking. Here I am an hour later writing a blog, and the words are literally flying out of my head onto my iPad. By the way, this is the first blog I've ever written - so I'm guessing the Spark works!!! A package of Spark contains 120 mg of caffeine, and my sensitivity to (everything!) caffeine was a concern I addressed with my coach last night. His advice: "drink half." I drank a whole package just to "see". It took about 30 minutes for me to notice the effects (slower than coffee, which hits me immediately and after less than half a cup) but about 90 minutes later I feel jittery, slightly sweaty, and very awake. I don't feel ill, but I will definitely only be drinking half a package tomorrow! My guess is that for those who aren't sensitive to caffeine or are used to drinking coffee on a daily basis, it won't be an issue. Another concern I have is that Spark contains Sucralose. As a rule I do not generally consume any chemically altered sugar such as sucralose, aspartame, etc. However, I am putting aside this concern for the moment, just for 10 days, and putting my faith in Advocare's scientific and medical advisory board and product certification program - but I have to be honest, the presence of Sucralose makes me slightly nervous and does contribute a little bit to my decision to only use half a package of Spark from this point on.

FIBER DRINK & CATALYST:
Half an hour after drinking the Spark, the directions are to drink the "Fiber Drink" along with three "Catalyst" pills. The Mandarin Orange flavor cleanse powder has a lot of fiber - it's very pulpy and gets thicker the longer it sits. This is slightly offputting, but not really offensive, and it doesn't taste bad. I will just have to drink it very quickly each day. It's hard to say whether the Fiber Drink and Catalyst pills have added to the energy boost I described above. The ingredients seem to be amino acids, probiotics, vitamins and minerals, and digestive herbs. As I scan the containers I don't see anything at first that I recognize as an energy supplement, but then I notice"Taurine", which a little internet research tells me is apparently a derivative of the amino acid Cysteine, and is widely used in energy drinks. Perhaps this, along with the combination of everything else in the Fiber Drink, is contributing to my extra energy. Either way, I am definitely slightly "jacked up" on energy this morning, and so is my husband. I have made a note to research Taurine.


HERBAL CLEANSE:
The directions are to take 3 herbal cleanse pills at night. Since I was sleeping (off and on), I do not know whether these pills had any adverse effects on my body. I didn't notice anything.


OVERALL EXPERIENCE - DAY 1:

Overall, Day 1 has me experiencing the following:

1. Jitters - I don't feel unwell, but I am slightly jittery, though not shaky. I don't feel as caffeinated as I used to in high school when I took diet pills (for a very short time, as I couldn't handle them, and no 16 year old should ever try!)

2. Sweating/Cold - I am sweating quite a lot in the first part of the morning and quite cold throughout the rest of the day. Since my house is old and therefore usually very cold, it's hard to say if that's a side effect or not.

3. Pooping! - I am spending more time than usual in the bathroom. (I'll spare the details, but it doesn't look like "expelling waste" during the cleanse stage is going to be a problem!) I work from home, but for those of you who work at an office, it's not awful, but you should be prepared to poo a lot! (If you can't poop-a-loop with other people around, you will want to find yourself a nice private bathroom somewhere on another floor.) 

4. Hunger - I got the thumbs up from our coach to eat as much as I normally do (about 1600 calories a day, and every 2 to 2-1/2 hours.) That's good, because it looks like I am going to be quite hungry on this program. My coach recommended I continue to eat following my usual patterns, although obviously I will be staying away from alcohol, added sugar, processed carbohydrates, etc. I don't plan to starve myself on this program though, and I will trust the nutritional supplements to do their jobs without deliberately reducing my caloric intake. Every time I eat during Day 1, I instantly feel better.

5. Sneezing - After I drink the herbal cleanse powder I sneeze quite a lot, a reaction I typically have to antioxidants, which apparently these products are loaded with! My sneezing stops after a few minutes, however.

6. Headache - My second dose of Spark (a half package) on an empty stomach, in the late afternoon, coupled with more Catalyst pills, has given me a dull headache. It's not that bad, and I attribute it partially to the caffeine/energy boosting ingredients, and partially to my body trying to purge itself of toxins. Later though, my headache gets worse - I even have trouble getting to sleep because of it. I can attribute this to the caffeine in the Spark, which is either too much or I'm withdrawing from it, or not eating enough calories throughout the day (I got sidetracked with blogging and work!), or maybe not drinking enough water (even though I felt certain I'd drunk a huge amount!) I've also heard that a headache is a common cleanse side effect, which occurs because your body is getting rid of so many toxins. I make a note to eat and drink more tomorrow.

7. Irritability/Sleeplessness - I have quite a lot of trouble getting to sleep the first night, and I wake up often throughout the night. I am really irritable, either from the caffeine or because I took my before photos right before bed and was pretty upset when I looked at them - which is enough to ruin any girl's night! Not exercising for a month has changed my body more than I thought - either that or I thought I was in a lot better shape than I am! Either way, I need this challenge more than I realized. (I'm still reeling in horror.)

Overall, I'm experiencing standard cleanse side effects. As long as I can sleep tonight, it should be pretty manageable.


Here are my top 3 tips based on my experience so far:

1. DO NOT take your "before" photos in the evening. Trust me on this one! It's for your mental stability! Take them when you wake up, when everything is tighter and less puffy. You're also likely to be in a better mood and not view the photos as negatively.

2. Drink a TON of water. When you think you have drunk enough, drink more!

3. If you're caffeine sensitive, only drink half the Spark drink.

The Beginning

Yesterday I decided to try Advocare's 24-Day Challenge.

I've been heavily into nutrition and fitness for about 6 years. When I was 25 I began noticing red patches and breakouts on my skin. I had also started to exercise in preparation for my wedding that year. I wasn't exactly fat at the time, but I was overweight by my standards, and I needed to lose about 15-20 pounds. I was having a really hard time losing the extra weight, especially in my midsection (story of our lives, right ladies?!) Before that time I had very little interest in working out and definitely did not eat healthy food.

Following the advice of a new friend (who I will always credit for starting me on a path that totally changed my life) I sought help from a naturopathic doctor who drew blood and ran a food sensitivity panel. The results led the doctor to recommend that I cut out wheat, dairy, and cane sugar, as well as soy and a few random fruits. While this blog is not going to be about that journey (maybe I will write it down some other time), that dietary lifestyle is one that I still follow, so it will affect my food choices while I'm on the 24 day challenge. It's also important for me to note those discoveries as the beginning of my journey down the "rabbit hole" into the natural health and fitness world.

I lost fifteen pounds in the first two weeks of the elimination diet my naturopath recommended, and it's weight that I've kept off for five years, sticking to the "diet" (I actually consider it a lifestyle) and getting regular exercise. My skin cleared up too - I've now almost completely eliminated the rosacea symptoms. (I also incorporated a new skin care regime and herbal supplements to support my liver.) More importantly, the process completely changed the way I look at food and nutrition. A few years later, in 2009, I studied for and passed the NASM Personal Trainer Certification exam.

My Advocare journey started last night when my husband and I met with our new Advocare coach for more than two hours. He introduced us to Advocare by reviewing some success stories, and describing the business opportunity and the products. We're not interested in the business opportunity at this time (who knows what the future will bring) but we did discuss our specific goals, needs and concerns. My husband is easy - he wants extra energy and weight loss. My goals are similar, but with more focus on general wellness, clear skin, better sleep, and burning off that stubborn top layer of fat that refuses to budge, even after five years of exercising religiously four or five days a week, eating organic and whole foods, and avoiding chemicals, processed foods, gluten, dairy and refined sugar. Chalk it up to genetics, bad posture, weak abdominal muscles (not helped by an appendectomy in 1993), not doing the "correct" or most effective style of crunches, or my chronic sweet tooth - whatever the cause, like most women I know, strengthening my abdominal muscles is a major goal of mine and an ongoing challenge.

I've also been forced to cut back on my workouts lately - I had a bad cold over Christmas that lasted almost two weeks, and then, before I was fully recovered, I went to a step aerobics class (my very favorite form of cardio!) and, like an idiot, fell off my step and twisted my ankle. There's nothing like being sick and then injuring yourself to make you feel old. Not being able to work out in the manner and frequency my body and mind craves for close to a month now has been challenging to say the least, and since my ankle is still healing I wanted to do something that would help facilitate weight loss (or at least weight maintenance) and keep me healthy while I'm "out of the game."

The goal of this blog is to record how I am using the Advocare products, how they're making me feel, and ultimately to compare my end results to my initial goals. I decided this morning (in a "Spark" fueled moment of genius?) that I'd like to record how each supplement makes me feel so that I know which (if any) to continue ordering after the 24 day challenge is over. It will also be useful for me to have a review of how I've felt on this program (symptoms, sensitivites, changes to my mental and physical state) for the next time I decide to do this. If you've been curious about Advocare or considering the program, and you're reading this, and you make it all the way to the end with me (!) maybe these notes will also be helpful for you in deciding whether or not you want to take the challenge. Or (forgive me for starting a sentence with "or") it will simply be an interesting read - I hope it will be both.

To learn more about the Advocare 24 Day challenge, check out www.advocare.com - and if you're interested, e-mail me so that I can put you in touch with my coach.