Book Guide: Books Dad Will Love for Father’s Day

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Father’s Day is just around the corner – literally. Like me, my dad is an avid reader. His go-to books are the Bill O’Reilly “Killing….” series, but lately I’ve been trying to broaden his horizons to read books written by other authors. Today I’m linking up with The Broke and the Bookish to share my recommendations for books dad will love this Father’s Day.

Books Dad Will Love for Father's Day

Books Dad Will Love

The Great Outdoors

Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel
This is the first book that I recommended to my dad this year and he loved it! Stranger in the Woods is the true story of a hermit, who lived in the woods in Maine for 27 years without being caught or detected. He ends up getting caught and the book centers on a journalist, Michael Finkel, trying to get to know this man and piece together why he went out to the woods and what kept him out there. It’s a quick and short read.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer or Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
I’ll be honest, any book by Jon Krakauer is a must-read. Krakauer writes non-fiction, telling stories based on true events. In Into the Wild, he pieces together the story of a man who disappears into the woods based on facts and information he finds from primary sources and interviewing the man’s family. In Into Thin Air, Krakauer recounts his experience climbing Mount Everest and the avalanche that occurred on the trip. Both riveting, and read more like fiction than non-fiction.

The Man Who Lives With Wolves by Shaun Ellis
My dad loves this book; my mom also read it and loved it, which is surprising because it’s not a go-to genre for her. (My parents bought the National Geographic documentary, A Man Among Wolves, based on the book and loved that as well). This book and documentary tell the true story about a man who chooses to live in the wild among a pace of wolves. The wolves have accepted him as part of their pack. Ever wondered what it would be like to live in the wild? Here’s your chance to find out.

Books Dad Will Love for Father's Day

History

Killing Patton by Bill O’Reilly
I had to include the Bill O’Reilly “Killing…” series. Killing Patton focuses on General Patton and World War II. I’ve enjoyed all of the books in the “Killing” series. I like that these books look at issues or events from multiple lenses. This isn’t meant to say there aren’t biases, but I think they do paint a well-rounded picture. I also particularly liked Killing Jesus, which looks at Jesus’s life through a historical lens.

Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose
If your dad is a World War II buff, then he will love Band of Brothers (same goes if he loved this TV mini-series). Band of Brothers is about a group of US Army soldiers and their experience fighting in WWII. This is a story about war; the good and the bad, the challenges and how war changes you.

The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
I seem to be on a war theme! The Things They Carried is an award winning book that is set during the Vietnam War. It’s also the only fiction I’m including on the list. It’s a must-read for anyone, and this tough, reflective book is one your dad will love.

Dead Wake by Erik Larson
I recommend anything by Erik Larson! Like Jon Krakauer, Larson writes about true events, and constructs an amazing narrative that feels like you’re reading a novel. He does a lot of research to construct stories from history and provides perspective that perhaps haven’t been explored as deeply and widely. Dead Wake focuses on the sinking of the Lusitania and how it brought the US into World War I.

Still searching for the perfect Father’s Day gift? Check out this list of books your dad will love!

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Sports

The Cubs Way: The Zen of Building the Best Team in Baseball and Breaking the Curse by Tom Verducci
My dad is a HUGE Chicago Cubs fan. We grew up at Wrigley Field, watching the Cubs play on Friday and Saturday afternoons. Watching them finally win the World Series in October was a dream come true. If you like sports and myth, The Cubs Way is a good book to check out.

When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi by David Maraniss
This book is recommended by my husband, who is an avid Green Bay Packers fan. If your dad loves football, then this book is a must-read about legendary Green Bay Packers coach, Vince Lombardi. It chronicles his rise to fame, from the son of an immigrant father to coaching the Green Bay Packers, leading them to five championships. Go Pack Go!

Note: I decided not to include fiction on this list. I honestly couldn’t decide where to begin!

Your Turn! What books will your dad love to read? Any recommendations on what I should get my dad for Father’s Day?

Podcasts I’m Loving Lately

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Happy Monday, friends! It was a hot and cold weekend here in Minnesota – almost 100 degrees on Saturday, followed by huge thunderstorms and chillier temps on Sunday. We ended up spending more time inside, in the air conditioned house (which I finally caved and turned on). We saw Wonder Woman (amazing!!!), enjoyed early morning walks, and I sewed while listening to a few podcasts.

Podcasts I'm Loving Lately

My Favorite Podcasts – Everyday Listening

The Popcast

If you are even slightly interested in pop culture, I highly recommend the Popcast with Knox and Jamie. These two are a (literal) gift sent from heaven. Each week, they tackle a topic in pop culture (roles that ruined actors, pop culture proms, traumatic tv deaths) and explore the topic in detail. They agree a little, disagree a lot, and provide commentary that is simultaneously hilarious and on point.

Recommended episode: #195 Traumatic TV Show Deaths

What Should I Read Next

I love Anne Bogel’s podcast and her blog, Modern Mrs. Darcy. On What Should I Read Next, Anne interviews a guest who tells her 3 books they love, 1 book they hate, and what they are reading lately … and she recommends 3 books for them! I love this podcast for the bookish discussion and reading recommendations. Plus, Anne is usually right on point with her recommendations!

Recommended episode: #68 Plot Summaries Are The Worst with Laura Tremaine

Revisionist History

This podcast is hosted by Malcolm Gladwell, a best-selling author. He launched this 10 episode podcast last summer and season 2 will be premiering soon. In each episode he examines something that has happened in history, and looks at it from other points of view. I found this to be incredibly fascinating; he brings up ideas and points that I never thought to consider.

Recommended episode: Season 1, episode 8 Blame Game (or any episode in the three-part higher education series)

Death, Sex, and Money

Death, Sex, and Money is a podcast all about those taboo topics that we don’t talk about in daily life. As someone who is nosy and likes to talk about weird topics, I love the various conversations that happen on this weekly show.

Recommended episode: ‘Precious’ Paid Off Gabourey Sidibe’s Gym Membership Death

Desert Island Discs with Kirsty Young

Apparently, Desert Island Discs is a long-running BBC radio show that I just found out about this year. So I’ve been catching up. Each week, Kirsty Young talks with a celebrity who talks with her about the 8 records they would take with them to a desert island. While doing this, they discuss their life and how the records fit in with their story. At the end, the guest must choose 1 record to bring to the island, plus can choose to bring 1 book (in addition to the Bible and all of Shakespeare’s work).

Recommended episode: Christiane Amanpour

These are just a few of the podcasts that I’m loving lately. If you haven’t given podcasts a try, I highly recommend it. You can listen online or download an app on your phone. I like Pocketcast for Android and I hear Stitcher is great too!

Your turn! What podcast are you loving lately?

What I’m Loving 6.9.17

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Ahhh, Friday! There’s something that makes Fridays even more magical in the summer. Tonight I’m heading to a small get-together with work friends, then have a relatively free weekend ahead of me. I’m planning on doing some reading (obvs), taking long walks with Hoss and the hubs, and enjoying our house. There will likely be some yard work and laundry mixed in, but that’s life. Plus, the summer sunshine makes it well worth it. But before the weekend hits, let’s talk about what I’m loving!

What I'm Loving Lately

What I’m Loving Lately…

Life:

Sunshine! We’ve finally had some beautiful weather here in Central Minnesota. I’m talking 80 degrees, sunshine all day, light breeze. This is weather I live for in the Midwest. It feels like summer is finally here, which means the windows are open and I can (sometimes) start my day out on the deck, sipping my coffee and enjoying a book.

At night, we’ve been taking advantage of the fire pit in our backyard. We bought our house last fall and didn’t get to use it. We made sure the fire pit was ready for us and we’ve been loving it. There’s just something about sitting around the fire in camp chair, roasting marshmallows, that screams SUMMER!!

Pop Culture:

I Am Jane Doe on Netflix. I’ve been watching much less TV, but found myself on the couch Tuesday night watching this documentary. It’s about the sex trafficking of minors in the US. It’s heavy and depressing, but there are also things we can do. So if you’re looking for a documentary that is a little tough, but incredible, check this one out.

I’m loving Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. I’m listening to it on Audible and highly recommend it. The narrator is amazing, which I think can add so much to an already good book.This is a long one (just under 20 hours), but it definitely lives up the hype it received earlier this year!

Links:

Why You Need an Imaginary Scapegoat via the Harvard Business Review

Why It Was Easier to be Skinny in the 80s via The Atlantic

Willpower Doesn’t Work. Here’s How to Actually Change Your Life via Thrive Global

Comment now! (1) What are you loving this week? (2) What are you doing this weekend?!

Setting Healthy Goals for Weight Loss

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Ah, Wednesdays. Happy hump day! Today is all about setting healthy goals…

I’ve mentioned briefly that I used to write a healthy living blog. It was about living my best life, being active, losing weight, and finding balance. Throughout my life, I’ve experienced ups and downs particularly when it comes to weight loss. I’ve gained and lost weight – multiple times. I’ve tried different approaches to combat this and have found different types of success.

Over the past six months or so, I’ve unfortunately gained weight. This is partly from personal struggles that have been incredibly stressful and partly because I haven’t cared as much as eating healthy or exercising as I should have. I’m at a point now where I feel ready to start focusing on losing weight and incorporating more healthy habits into my life.

Setting Healthy Goals for Weight Loss

Setting Healthy Goals

Over the next month, I’m setting healthy goals for myself. I want to begin to lose weight, but more I want make healthy decisions and feel better about myself. I keep reminding myself that what I do every day is more important than what I do once in awhile. This means that I want to make good decisions for my health most of the time.

Eat a serving of fruits or veggies at each meal.

I’m not sure when this happened but I’ve become a carb and sugar queen. I’ll sneak in fruits occassionally, but veggies have somehow become non-existent in my diet. My goal for June is to include a fruit or veggie at each meal. This is a small step, but I find that adding things to my diet, instead of restricting, seems to help. Plus, fruits and veggies make me feel good!

Cut down on sugar.

Ok, I just said I don’t like to restrict. That being said, my sweet tooth is out of control. I’ve become accustomed to each sugar regularly, not to mention all the added sugar that I eat in my daily food. I’m not saying I cannot have any treats, but I want to be more intentional with the types of food I put in my body. This means enjoying french vanilla cream in my coffee but not having 2-3 little sweets throughout the day.

“Exercise” 4 times per week.

I like to exercise. Somehow, I’ve stopped exercising – less dog walking, less resistance training, less overall movement. To me, exercise doesn’t mean go to the gym. It means be intentionally active. So, my goal is to exercise 4 times each week. Whether it’s a long dog walk or a quick 30 minute HIIT workout, I want to move more to feel better.

Stay positive.

This seems silly, but I am the queen of negative self-talk. I could make good decisions all day, make one bad choice, and use that as a reason to destroy myself and all the progress I’ve made. So, I want to stop that – or try to! When I feel self-talk coming on, I want to focus on the progress I have made. I know this is going to be a journey, but I won’t be successful if I am constantly putting myself down. This will be tough for me, but I am going to give it my 100% effort.

“What I do every day is more important than what I do once in awhile” – thoughts to keep in mind with weight loss

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This is where I’m starting. I am weighing myself to track progress, but want to keep track of other accomplishments too. As I continue on my journey, I’ll update you on how I’m going!

Comment below – what is your go-to healthy living tip?

Favorite YA Books of 2017 (so far)

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Happy Monday friends! It’s been two weeks since we got from Europe (did I tell you we went to Europe for two weeks in May?) and I’m ready to jump back into the blogging world. Even though I was busy planning for our trip, I’ve still managed to read some great books (just updated my 2017 reading page!). Surprisingly, I’ve read some great YA books. This isn’t surprising because YA books aren’t good, but because I just been anxious to read YA books lately. That has changed! Today I want to share some of my favorite YA books of 2017 (so far).

Favorite YA Books of 2017

I haven’t been very excited about YA novels in the past few years. They just haven’t been what I opt to pick up in this season of my life. However, this year has shown me that when done right, YA novels are great. I’ve started reading more YA books and am excited when I find ones that are beautifully written and sometimes can transcend their “YA” genre. I wanted to share some of my favorite YA books that I have loved this year so far…

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

If you read one book this, I highly recommend this one. Not as  YA book, but as just a great book. This book is about a teenager named Starr, who witnesses her friend get shot by a police officer. In terms of subject, this is on point for issues we are currently dealing with in our society. But more, what I found particularly poignant was the exploration of identity, of trust, and of relationships as Starr tries to navigate her world after what she experiences. This book is phenomenal and I cannot recommend it more highly.

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

I checked this book from the library not knowing what to expect. I began reading in Europe, because I figured it would be a light, YA novel I could quickly read. HA! I got a lot more from this book. The novel focuses on two characters, Violet and Finch. These two characters could not be more different, but somehow find their way to each other and have an incredibly intriguing relationship. This book explores relationships, family relationships, mental health, and love. I laughed and cried and loved this book.

Everything, Everything by Nicole Yoon

Ooooooh, this one. I loved it. After I read a few YA novels, I was super into this one. Plus, the movie just came out and there was a lot of hype about this book, so I went in with high expectations. Personally, I loved it. It centers around Madeline, who is basically a bubble girl. And she falls in love with the boy next door. But how do you date someone when your a bubble girl? Oooh, I was all in on this. Plus, there is a pretty great twist ending. If you go in knowing this is a more typical YA novel, I think you’ll enjoy!

 

A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

I will admit this – is this 100% a typical YA series. And I loved it. It had all sorts of great aspects – a great female protagonist, a love triangle, travel between dimensions (oh yeah!), and so much more. The main character is Marguerite, who comes from a loving, if not entirely “normal” family. Her parents are physicists, who are trying to figure out how to travel between different dimensions. The books opens with the murder of Marguerite’s father, and suspicion that a close family friend did it. And off we go! This was a quick read. This was my favorite of the three book series. I loved this!

If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

I just finished this book on Saturday. I saw it at the library and picked it up on impulse because it was endorsed by the author of All The Bright Places. It was a short read, about a girl Amanda and her secret. Amanda is (SPOILER) transgender, and the book explores her experience working through transitioning from being a boy to girl – by navigating relationships with others and figuring out her identity. I got so caught up in Amanda’s journey and her world. I highly recommend reading, particularly if you liked This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel.

Tell me – what are your favorite YA novels of 2017 so far?

How Much I Think I Know

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I was surfing the internet the other day when I came across the below image on the A Cup of Jo website. It’s titled “How Much I Think I Know” and is illustrated by Mari Andrew. It really resonated with me.
How Much I Think I Know by Mari Andrew

How Much I Think I Know by Mari Andrew

How Much Do I Think I Know?

As I reflect on my life and growing up, I can only laugh at how much I continually realize I do not know. As an adolescent, a teenager, and in my early 20s, I thought I knew everything. EVERYTHING. There was no way anyone could tell me that I was wrong or that they understood or that I would gain perspective and look back on this time differently. I thought I knew everything. But I didn’t.

It wasn’t until I was in my late 20s that I began to gain more insight. Insight from personal experience and also insight from a willingness to look at the world from other perspectives than those that came most easily to me. I’m 30 now and can very openly say that there is a lot I don’t know. But instead of seeing that as a weakness, I see it as a strength.

Not knowing is okay. Actually, I think it’s much more than okay. We are not meant to know everything or understand everything. Rather, I think as we grow older (or at least, as I grow other) there is a sort of comfort in not knowing. Or perhaps, a comfort in knowing that there are some things I don’t know and it’s ok to ask others their opinions or thoughts or to share their experience to perhaps inform mine.

As I get older, I hope that I maintain this perspective. I believe it is an asset to be able to say, “I don’t know.” Not because you’re not intelligent, but because we cannot be an expert in everything, and should rely on the experience, knowledge, and wisdom from others to help move ourselves a little further along each day.

There is a lot I don’t know. And I’m okay with that. 

DIY Heating Pad

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I am not the most crafty person. I want to be. I have memories of home ec class in high class, and how it was the worst experience of my life. Maybe I’m being dramatic, but the sewing, the patience, the good-natured people: it was all too much. That’s why it’s pretty surprising that I not only have a sewing machine, but successfully made something – a DIY Heating Pad!

I wouldn’t have even considered taking up, or trying to take up sewing, if it hadn’t been for my mother-in-law. She sparked my interest in learning how to sew. Then, my sister-in-law (see a pattern here??) showed me the clothes she makes and how (relatively) easy to is to make beginner items and I thought to myself, “let’s give it a try.”

Which is why I started with what I would describe as the easiest sewing project ever – the DIY Heating Pad. Why is it the easiest? Because your basically sewing a rectangle. It’s pretty tough to mess up!

DIY Heating Pad

Items Needed:

  • Sewing machine (obvs, though you could hand stitch, I suppose, but that sounds like torture)
  • Pins
  • Fabric – 1 yard of 100% cotton, aka something that won’t start on fire in the  microwave
  • Thread that matches your fabric, if that’s important to you
  • Rice

Steps:

The steps are wicked easy, but I’ll outline the process I followed to the best of my ability.

  1. Buy fabric
    I went to Joann Fabric and had a field day looking at all the different fabric. That store is like Target for crafty stuff. I could have bought way more, but limited myself to just a few pieces of fabric to get started with, as to not terrify my husband. I bought 1 yard of this pretty purple and pink fabric.
  2. Decide on size of your DIY Heating Pad
    I knew I wanted a long rectangular heating pad, so I cut my fabric approximately 14 inches x 20 inches.
    What I liked about this is I really couldn’t mess this up, again because it’s a rectangle, so don’t fret too much if it isn’t perfect.
  3. Pin
    Fold you fabric “pretty side to pretty side” (lingo I’ve picked up from other blogs) aka so the underside/ugly side is on the outside. You are going to pin 2 sides, leaving the last open to insert rice. See picture below.
    4. Sew
    It look me awhile to get my sewing machine set up and I’m not an expert at trouble shooting this. Luckily, there were no tears. But once you figure this out #criticalthinkingskills, sew the 2 sides that you have pinned. This should leave you with a rectangle that is sewn on 2 sides, with 1 side open to put the rice in.
    5. Get the rice!!!!
    First, turn your heating pad inside out so the pretty side is on the outside. Then it’s time to put in the rice. I ended up using about 2.5 cups of rice, but again, do what feels best for you and your heating pad needs. I use my heating pad on my face when I have migraines, so I wanted enough rice to be able to spread out in my heating pad, all over my face. Make this work for you!
    6. Finish sewing this bad boy.
    This is where things got…tricky. Mostly, because I am not the most skilled hand sewer. But hey, I’m learning!!!! Finish sewing the last open side of your heating pad. You skilled sewers can probably accomplish some of this with your sewing machine, and hand sew the end. As you can see in my pic below, the last few inches of mine got a little messy. It happens #noshame

And here’s the finished product!!! I have to say, I’m pretty proud of myself for starting and finishing my first product. I almost gave up when I couldn’t immediately figure out how to use my sewing machine, but am glad I didn’t. I have a lot of skills to learn and a long way to go, but I really enjoyed making something for myself, that I can use. Yay!

So that’s that! Hope this is helpful. If not, Pinterest has tons of pins on how to make this, so I’m sure one way or another, you’ll find a way to make a DIY Heating Pad!

Are you crafty? Do you sew? What types of projects do you like to make? Tell me in the comments below!

7 Tips to Prepare For Your Advocare 24 Day Challenge

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Hi friends! I am gearing up to start an Advocare 24 Day Challenge in the next few weeks. I’ve done four other 24 Day Challenges, and am looking forward to resetting myself, health-wise. As I begin to plan for my upcoming challenge, I wanted to share my 7 tips to prepare for your first Advocare 24 Day Challenge!

7 Tips to prepare for your Advocare 24 Day Challenge

7 Tips to Prepare For Your Advocare 24 Day Challenge

1. Get familiar with the 24 Day Challenge. This will be my third challenge, but my first time using the brand new Herbal Cleanse System. This means learning about the new and improved Cleanse Phase (which has some changes I’m looking forward to and will recap for you in the upcoming weeks!) and re-reading information on the Max Phase. I know I love the products, but I also know I like to be prepared and knowing what to expect. Knowledge is power and it will go a long way in setting up a successful 24DC!

2. Make a meal plan. In my experience, having a meal plan is key. Start by making a meal plan that outlines your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for the upcoming week. My meal planner outlines seven days, but really, planning five days at a time works best for me (how am I supposed to know what I’m going to want to eat in a week?!).  Before the 24DC starts, go to the grocery store and make sure you have the food you need on hand. It’s much easier to stay on track when you have the food you need to properly fuel you!

3. Say goodbye to processed foods. This is tough, I know. But you will have the best 24DC experience and results if you say buh-bye to processed foods. “Processed” means different things to different people and you can decide what it means to you. For me, ridding my diet of processed foods means incorporating as much fresh food as possible. I don’t eliminate ALL processed foods – I love having oatmeal during the Max Phase and will sometimes snack on Triscuits (there a few varieties with three or less ingredients), but for the most part, I try to stay as fresh as possible. 24 days is not forever – it is a totally reasonable amount of time to make changes (and to be honest, after 24 days, many of those processed foods don’t even taste as good as you remember!).

4. Make a fitness plan. You are getting ready to do the 24DC. You have made a meal plan and completed your grocery shopping. Now it’s time to think about fitness. Everyone is in different places and having a fitness plan doesn’t necessarily mean buying a gym membership and going nuts for 24 days. Instead, make a plan that works for you. Plan to walk 60 minutes each day, pop in a workout DVD or to try one new Pinterest circuit workout each day. Commit to movement – any movement! The 24DC is meant to help jumpstart a lifestyle change – making fitness a priority should be part of that change!

5. Don’t do it alone. I’ll be the first to admit it – doing the 24DC on your own is tough. My biggest challenge while on the 24DC (pun intended!), is that Jason doesn’t do it with me. He still refuses to give up his beer and coffee, despite my urging that it’s ONLY 24 days! It’s hard to make changes in your lifestyle when your partner or family isn’t behind you. But that doesn’t mean your alone! Find a friend or family member that wants to make the change with you. Or find a community – I’m part of a Facebook group with over 1,900 fellow challengers who always provide support and are willing to answer any questions you have. It’s great to have a community to go to!

5. Stay away from the scale. I know it’s tempting. It’s tempting for me! But the best way to get discouraged is to track your progress every day and feel like you’re not seeing the results you want as quickly as you want. The 24DC says it for a reason – weigh and measure yourself before your challenge, on Day 11, and Day 25. And remember – the scale is NOT everything! Make sure to take your measurements (I saw much bigger results with my measurements than with the scale, FYI!). And each body reacts to change differently, so remember that there are many ways to measure success that are not directly tied to the scale!

7 Tips to prepare for your Advocare 24 Day Challenge

6. Buy extra Spark! It took me maybe a week into my first 24DC to see I needed more Spark – and fast! Spark is delicious and provides the perfect amount of energy for during the day. Once you Spark, you really can’t stop! The #1 thing I hear from challengers is that there is not enough Spark to last through the entire 24DC. So make sure you have enough to get through the challenge – or buy a variety pack to figure out which flavor is your favorite!

7. Remember your “WHY.” Your “why” is the reason behind why you are doing the 24DC and it’s different for everyone. It might be because you want to lose weight. It might be that you’re ready to cut out sugar and processed foods. It might be because you’re sick and tired of feeling sick and tired all the time! There are millions of reasons behind why you chose to do a 24 Day Challenge. Figure it out, write it down, and remember that why when it gets hard. When you want to reach for a cookie or have a drink or are feeling a little unmotivated. Remember what inspired you to make a change in the first place!

Phew! That ended up being longer than I expected, but these were all things I’ve thought about this week as I’ve gotten ready to start my 24 Day Challenge. It’s been awhile since I’ve done a full challenge (I did a mini-challenge this winter), but I am so ready to hit the reset button and start making progress towards my goals. I’m so excited and can’t wait to share my progress with you all!

Note: This post was originally posted on my original blog, Racing Bananas (which is no longer around). 

Advocare Cleanse Phase Review

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Note: This post is originally from Racing Bananas, my old blog. I’m bringing over to KimBocko to share my Advocare 24 Day Challenge Results, since I get so many inquiries about it!

I’m really excited to jump right in and share with my Cleanse Phase review of the Advocare 24 Day Challenge (24DC). The Cleanse Phase of the 24DC is the first 10 days. This part of the challenge is a cleanse, where you’re helping remove toxins from your body and getting set up for the second part of the 24DC, the Max Phase. When I think “cleanse,” I think of drinking liquids only and fasting. This was not the case at all! I ate three meals per day, plus two snacks and felt fantastic!

Advocare Cleanse Phase Review

Cleanse Phase Details:

Days 1-3:

  • Upon Rising: 1 serving Spark mixed with 20 oz of water + 2 Catalyst, wait 30 minutes
  • Fiber Drink mixed with 10 oz water + 2 more 16 oz glasses of water, wait 30 minutes
  • Breakfast + OmegaPlex pills
  • Morning Snack
  • Lunch
  • Afternoon Snack
  • Dinner + OmegaPlex pills
  • Before Bed: Herbal Cleanse tablets

Days 4-7:

Days 8-10:

It sounds like a lot, but I really didn’t find it cumbersome. I made myself little ziploc bags with what I needed for each day and kept my checklist with me so I knew what I needed to take when. So onto what I thought about the Cleanse Phase…

Cleanse Phase Review:

Pros:

  • I don’t constantly feel hungry. Especially since I kind of lost control over the past couple of months, I reached a point where I was always hungry and thinking about food. So far, I haven’t once experienced those “hunger pains.” I eat every 2-3 hours and feel satisfied.
  • Energy! After getting through the withdrawal stages, I found I had a ton of energy! I woke up earlier than usual and felt energetic all day. I hear that the Max Phase gives even more energy (which is true so far!), so I am accomplishing so much  more!
  • Spark! So this goes alone with energy, but OMG Spark! It’s a sugar free, 0 calorie drink that provides the same amount of caffeine as coffee. I love it! I love starting the day with it and to be honest, it makes me feel more energetic and less “weighed down” than coffee does. I actually think I’m going to keep up with Spark and cut out coffee after the 24DC is over (words I never thought I would say!).
  • I no longer feel bloated. Before the 24DC, I woke up every day feeling bloated and just, “large.” I haven’t had that bloated feeling since I started the 24DC! Instead I feel “light” and my stomach feels normal – not too full!
  • TMI Alert: I’m not gassy anymore! I’m a pretty gassy person, which can be a bit embarrassing. Seriously though, I think I farted less than 5 times (if that!) during the Cleanse Phase! Probably more than you wanted to know, but it’s true!
  • No migraines. I suffer from chronic migraines, which can be a bit debilitating at times. I experienced a few headaches, from what I assume were sugar and caffeine withdrawal, but not blinding migraines. That was an incredibly pleasant surprise!

Cons:

  • Cravings and Self-Control! Giving up sugar and coffee cold turkey was hard. There were a couple of days where I just wanted to give in and binge – but I didn’t. Especially since last week was one of the most stressful weeks at work ever, all I wanted to do was sit at my desk and eat chocolate to help calm myself. But I stayed strong and am thankful I did, because my body feels amazing! For me, I had to ask myself if I was really  hungry or if I was experiencing a craving – every time, I wasn’t hungry. This is a change, but one that I’m going to have to keep employing in order to live a healthy life.
  • Cost. Yes, the 24DC is expensive – it was a chunk of money to put out without knowing how the challenge would go or if it would even work! However, I feel better and I’m spending less money on eating out, Starbucks, and junk foods like chocolate. Oh and no alcohol means no money spent on happy hour!
  • I did experience a bit of a breakout. I couldn’t figure out why, because I was eating healthier, however I found out online that breakouts can occur during cleanses because it’s your body’s way of releasing toxins. So that made sense. It’s already begun to clear up, which is also nice!
  • The Fiber drink. Ugh. Just ugh. This is literally the most disgusting thing I’ve ever drank in my life (ask Lindsay, I would text her in the morning about how I hated – #blends are the best!)! But I choked it down and you only have to drink it 6 times during the 24DC….

Progress so far:
Lost: 7lbs
Lost: 8.75 inches

To be honest, I was shocked when I got on the scale and measured myself after the Cleanse Phase. That’s a pretty hefty transformation to take place over 10 days, but when I think about it – I took on healthy eating habits and started incorporating exercise more regularly into my diet as well. So, these results aren’t as far fetched as they seem (and as an FYI – inches lost includes inches from different places on my body – shoulders, hips, waist, thigh, etc).

Overall, the 24DC has been an awesome experience so far. Today I’m on Day 14 of the 24DC (and 4 days in the Max Phase) and cannot believe how much energy I have. As someone who always feels a little tired, I feel like a brand new person. It’s great!

I’ll recap the Max Phase when the 24DC is over, but I can tell you that for me, I have found a system that is truly working. If anyone is thinking about Advocare and has any questions at all, let me know! I know I had tons of questions before I was ready to check it out (seriously!), so it’s nice to be able to chat with someone who has gone through the 24DC to hear their experience! I hope you find this Cleanse Phase review helpful!

Your Turn!

  • Ever done the Advocare 24DC? How did it go?
  • Interested in learning more about it? Let me know!

Links I Love

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Happy Saturday! After a morning of coffee, reading, a 1.5 mile walk with Hoss, and filing our taxes (ugh), I wanted to share a few of my favorite links from around the web this week!

Links I Love

Links I Love

37 Of The Most Heartbreakingly Beautiful Lines In Literature  I’m a sucker for quotations and this is a fabulous list. My favorite book, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, is featured!

“All children have to be deceived if they are to grow up without trauma.”
― Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go

This couple created a 75-foot mega bed to sleep with their pets. Because who wouldn’t want to snuggle with their furry family members?! This looks like a dream to me (plus all the space!!).

20 Cheat Sheets For When You’re Trying To Eat A Little Healthier A great round-up of cheat sheets – I particularly like the coffee protein shake graphic, since I’ve been working to perfect my Vanilla Shakeology + coffee shake in the morning.

50 Ways Happier, Healthier, And More Successful People Live On Their Own Terms Good tips. I don’t agree with all, but some good ideas to think about, like read one book per week and define what happiness means to you (which is a very interesting question that has got me thinking…).

When Your Greatest Romance is a Friendship This is an intriguing read from the New York times about a friendship between an older woman and younger man. Sometimes romance doesn’t mean sexual romance, but something a little different.

“That night, I had an odd realization: Some of the greatest romances of my life have been friendships. And these friendships have been, in many ways, more mysterious than erotic love: more subtle, less selfish, more attuned to kindness.”

What are you reading lately? Share your links below!