Living An Extraordinary Life

Everyone wants to live an extraordinary life to some degree! Some imagine being the hero of their story, some just want adventure, some just want a break from the mundane.
Here at Living Inspired, I firmly believe in living life to the fullest, embracing each moment & seeing the adventure in each day!
Over at MindBodyGreen.com, Kate Swoboda wrote a really awesome list on simple ways to start living a more extraordinary life, titled  "8 Ways To Make Your Life Extraordinary, No Matter How Ordinary It Seems".
 I gotta say, I do the first thing on the list pretty much every night I cook. I blast Pandora, sing & dance in the kitchen & act silly with my daughter. And as much as I don't love cooking or meal prepping, those few minutes of laughter and music are often the best part of my day!
Taking it from boring & mundane to feeling alive & free!
The others on the list...I am going to start working on!

Check out the list here:
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-13938/8-ways-to-make-your-life-extraordinary-no-matter-how-ordinary-it-seems.html#comments

Living Life to The Fullest

I firmly believe in living life to the fullest. Living is more than just getting by, just existing. It is embracing the moment, realizing how fragile & short life is. It is realizing each day, each moment is a gift. No one is guaranteed today or tomorrow, so enjoy every moment. Living fully is embracing the adventures that find us & finding new adventures in each day.
Along the way, bless others! You never know how short life is, so do the most you can for others while you still have time! Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you, how they blessed your life . Tell them you love them, every day!
This life is fleeting & you can't take your treasures with you so invest in the people you love, people you meet, invest in helping others, in giving back & enriching others lives. Those are the things worth investing in!
Nothing lasts forever....things will break or get destroyed, money will lose its value...leaving behind a legacy of enriching others lives, making a difference, glorifying God in how you live...that will last far longer!

Update: Day 10 of Advocare 24 Day Challenge :)

Thankful to say that I'm down 7.5 inches & almost a full jean size so far! That's more progress in the past 10 days with Advocare's nutritional supplements than the past year doing it alone & eating healthy.

I LOVE that there's no counting calories or points, its just eating real food, balanced meals & basically filling in the gaps with great vitamins & amino acids!! 
If you have any questions about the challenge itself, the products or what I think so far about anything comment below :)

For those of you who want to do the challenge or try Advocare what makes you want to try it? If youre hesitant, what has held you back from trying it yet?

For those of you have done the challenge or are doing it...what do you think so far? What are/were your results? Is there anything you would've done differently? 

MY RESULTS SO FAR (DAY 10):

Top: Day 1 (I'm actually really embarrassed by these lol)
Bottom: Day 10. It may not look like much but I feel really amazing & have a ton of energy!

To try the challenge or learn about what the products are contact me or check out: http://www.advocare.com/14056344

Where Your Heart & Treasure Are...

The Bible is full of great wisdom! 
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21 (NIV)
Its so true! Where we spend our money, or what we save it up for, is generally where our heart is. What we prioritize as worth spending our money on, is what we place value on. Its not to say we can't have nice things but often we don't evaluate where our priorities and values are. 
Nice things aren't bad but its the heart behind it that matters. Its important to take care of ourselves & our children but we should not let cultural pressures influence our priorities.
If you're spending your money on expensive houses & fancy cars you probably value status pretty highly. If you value your children's future you probably spend on/save for their education. If you value your health you're more likely to spend money on healthy food & nutrition. If you value people and blessing others you probably do a lot of giving. 
Your heart and money are often intertwined. 
1 Timothy 6:10 says..."For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs". (NIV) 
Money itself is not the root of evil but rather the love of it! When we place too much importance on making money we lose focus & often become greedy. Money can be used to do a lot of good! But again its the heart behind it that matters! My belief is that God does not want us to be poor or go hungry, He wants to bless us, but we must understand where our blessings come from and that a cup that flows over with blessing should be shared with others. So if you have a big house, invite others into your home for fellowship, or Bible studies or host a missionary family visiting the U.S. for a few days. I'm not saying we have to give up everything but....we should spend money wisely, as whatever we receive is a blessing & should not be used for greed; we should use our blessings to bless others; enjoy the blessings God gives you & give thanks for everything! 
This life is fleeting & momentary what we do can either impact for the better or we can spend on frivolous things & waste our blessings rather than pouring them back out....Just a thought.

Mason Jar Detox Water

Looking for a simple way to detox or stay hydrated this summer?  If you use Pinterest I'm sure you've seen buzzing around the internet the idea of drinking "detox water" or "fruit infused water" as a simple way to flush out your system or ones to keep hydrated. 
After trying my hand and coming with my own basic recipe, I've found I love these fruit infused water SO much! Not only does it keep me hydrated, but I basically drink this all week as a better way to keep up with my water intake when I get bored with plain water & want something with a hint of flavor! 
I stock the fridge with a pitcher of "detox water" & 2-3 mason jars of other flavors pre-made in the fridge.
I use one empty jar as a glass or a to-go cup & drink about 4-5 mason jars worth of water a day. The jars & pitcher can last 2-3 days just topping off with water (as long as the fruit doesn't get soggy or  the water gets cloudy).
**Recipe I Use**
"Detox Water": 1/2 to 1 full lemon squeezed, a handful of organic mint leaves (can get at any grocery store but definitely make sure its organic). I bruise the leaves a little to get more of the flavor & benefits, then toss in a handful of cucumber slices (again either organic or peel them first)....then top off all of it with water & let "brew"/"steep" over night! 
Though I'm not a doctor, supposedly lemon is good for detoxing, cucumbers are hydrating & mint is good for digestion. I have found watermelon to be a bit diuretic just as a word of warning....not a bad thing but guess it just helps with detoxing.

In the mason jars I prep a few other flavors for variety: 
--Strawberry, mint leaves, cucumber
--Honeydew slices, cucumber
--Strawberry, honeydew 
--Watermelon, cucumber, mint
--Watermelon, cucumber, lemon
--Watermelon, cucumber, strawberry
Etc... 

Clean Eating Grocery List

A few years back I decided I wanted to eat clean which basically barely anything processed or packaged, no added sugars, fried foods etc. I wanted to get back to nature and feeding my body what it was meant to eat. After trying to figure out what to buy and stock up on for meals and snacks I finally came up with a basic "Clean Eating" grocery list I use each week. Some weeks I already have a few things on this list so each week tends to be just filling in the gaps.
 For instance a large container of yogurt, oatmeal, a box rice or quinoa & frozen veggies tend to keep us stocked for two weeks. So the next week I may just buy lettuce, some fruit and fresh veggies.
We don't eat many if any processed or packaged foods. I try and cook completely real food. Aside from boxes of quinoa or brown rice & containers of Greek yogurt...we buy mostly produce & lean meats. I try and buy organic where I can & when I can afford it.

Also I meal plan out my week and buy based on those amounts.

My List:

PROTEIN: 

Eggs (free range & hormone free)

Chicken (thin cut breasts or boneless tenderloins) 

Ground turkey

Beef (lean)
Tilapia
Salmon

COMPLEX CARBS:

Oatmeal

Quinoa

Chickpeas
Black beans

Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes 

Brown rice

Whole grain pasta (gluten free) 

VEGGIES/FRUITS:

Romaine lettuce

Spinach lettuce

Broccoli

Cauliflower
Onions
Peppers
Green beans
Zucchini/Squash
Apples
Bananas
Strawberries

Carrots
Cucumbers
Blueberries
Grapes
Pears
Peaches

Lemons
Beets (only canned food I buy)

NUTS/GOOD FATS/OTHER:
Balsamic vinegar (for dressing)
Avocados

Greek yogurt (plain)--usually Fage brand

Organic mint leaves (for tea & detox water)

Pecans

Hummus
Olive oil
Coconut oil
Butter (sometimes)

*********************************

For meal ideas this is a general list:

I make a lot of salads and tend to meal prep the day I shop so its easy to grab and eat.
For dressing I only make my own. My recipe is super simple but delicious... its is a little bit of balsamic vinegar, whatever seasonings you like & a dash of olive oil to cut the vinegar.

*Breakfast is usually 1 or 2 eggs, a serving of oat bran/oatmeal & some fruit.

*Lunch is either left covers from dinner the night before, a healthy sandwich on gluten free bread or a salad topped with veggies, avocado & pecans.

*Dinner is usually something simple:

Chicken.... grilled in a pan with coconut oil, roasted/sautéed veggies & either whole grain/Gluten free pasta or rice or quinoa.

Ground beef or turkey such as....
--Stuffed peppers with brown rice or quinoa
--Burgers on the George Foreman grill with side of veggies and roasted potatoes
Or I try and get creative and find a fun healthy recipe on pintest.

**My recipe for
Best Roasted Veggies:
(seriously love veggies this way & pretty much only cook them this way)

*Heat oven to 400-420
*Line baking sheet with aluminum foil
*Grease sheet with olive oil to prevent veggies from sticking
*Prep veggies....dice potatoes or sweet potatoes, defrost a bit any frozen veggies or they get soggy, rinse & chop veggies etc...
*Toss your choice of veggies in large bowl with a dash of olive oil & your favorite seasonings --be careful to use I individual herbs etc...many premixed ones contain MSG :(
*Toss onto lined baking sheet, single layer
*Bake for about 15-25 mins based on your oven (ours cooks really fast)

***Great veggies to roast: potatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, thick cut zucchini/squash, carrots...if you have any questions about any more just ask :)

What are your favorite veggies? What are your go to "clean" or mostly "clean" recipes? 

Tips for Advocare 24 Day Challenge & Reaching Other Fitness Goals

Here are some tips for reaching your fitness goals or for those doing the AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge!

*Keep a food journal! You'll learn a lot about yourself! Write out everything from portion sizes to sauces you added to your food. It will help you see where you are making great choices & where you are adding unneeded calories or  where you're weaknesses are. For example maybe you eat pretty healthy but always add creamy dressing to your salad...it adds up. Or maybe after a long day you indulge in a treat. Its not a bad thing but you could be on a cycle of using food as a reward which is an unhealthy cycle.

*Stay hydrated! & Drink your water!! 8-10 ;(8oz) glasses a day

*Go out and buy one of these from Target! (See photo below) No seriously ;) I LOVE this thing so much! Its a BPA free cup that locks when the straw is removed making it amazing for shakes & spark or fruit infused water (or just as a to go cup for water). Its so convenient & cute, it makes keeping up with drinking water fun! Seriously! Love it!

*Base plans around active activities rather than around food! For example my husband & I take our daughter for a long walk for the afternoon as something fun to do instead of going out for ice cream. Or if we are out to dinner downtown, before heading home, we stroll around town & get a cup of tea at a local coffee shop rather then go out for dessert or grabbing calorie filled lattes. 

*Don't eat with your eyes & recognize your body's cues of when you're full. We often overeat because a meal looks & tastes so good. Slow down, take smaller bites and savor your food. Then when you are starting to feel full, STOP eating...if you're still hungry you can take a few bites but you'll be surprised that you don't really want any more...you were just eating it to eat. 

*Develop a better relationship with food. Food can be delicious, but its main purpose is to fuel your body....use it for that! Do not allow food to simply meet an emotional need or response.  Enjoy what you eat, but don't over eat just because it tastes great. Which is why savoring each smaller bite satisfies your taste buds and craving, but provides just enough food for your body. Plus you can always take leftovers and eat it again for lunch the next day ;)

*Don't Give Up!! A "bad" day is not the end of the world & if you indulged in a small treat you're not "cheating" on your diet. Again this goes with poor relationships with food, just try & better decisions. Try to JUST SAYING NO next time...saying No I'm not going to eat this right now, it is not worth it at this time.
Or tell yourself..."I'm not going to have a cupcake now, I know what a cupcake tastes like, this isn't anything new. I can have one when I reach my goal because,  right now my goal & health are more important than a cupcake right now."

*A Pound is A Pound! Rejoice the small victories & accomplishments! It's not going to all come off in one day, it is going to take time to reach your goal, celebrate the small wins...they add up!

*Create a basic grocery list & meal plans (see my post on my Clean Eating grocery list)

*Stock your kitchen with what you will eat on your diet or 24 day challenge...if you don't have healthy snacks readily on hand you're more likely to over indulge or eat junky foods....trust me! I've been there! When you're super hungry you'll eat just about anything even though you have the best intentions not to!

*Clean out your kitchen of junk food! No seriously! DO NOT keep an extra bag of chips or cookies as an emergency "I'll just have 1" stash.... when you have a strong craving, that bag will be empty before you realize you opened it.

*That being said....stock healthy alternatives to your favorite things.... if you have a sweet tooth reach for a piece of fruit! No really! I didn't believe it until one day I really was craving a cookie & my friend had made some and left them at my house, instead I ate a few grapes and a strawberry or two and it curbed the craving! If you're a chocoholic like me...Advocare has amazing Chocolate Meal Replacement Shakes that honestly curb my chocolate cravings!

*Before you start....take your measurements & weight to be able to compare after the challenge.

*Take before photos

* THOSE ON THE CHALLENGE...On day 10 you can do a progress report by weighing yourself, take your measurements & photos of your progress.

*Dont forget to take "After" photos of your results & hard work! :)

*Make a kick butt play list to give you that added push during workouts

 *Make a motivational board with mantras for inspiration & motivation (see my post below with some of mine)

*Rubber bands or hair ties around a bottle or to go cup makes it easy to keep track of water intake. Place 4-5 bands around 16oz cup and remove one each time you finish and refill :) 

*Do it with a friend or group of friends! Whether it's the challenge or another fitness goal...set it, do it together, help each other meet your goals!  

What do you do to help motivate yourself to reach your goals? And if any of you have done the challenge what tips can you recommend to myself and others? 

ADDITIONAL TIPS FOR THOSE DOING THE 24 Day Challenge...

*When ordering Spark...do not order the citrus. I learned the hard way it is not the best flavor. Its not horrible just really not great. The watermelon is my favorite so far!

*When ordering the fiber drink...order the Peach! I repeat DO NOT ORDER the citrus one! From what I've heard its super gross and nothing like the Peach one. The peach one is tasty and easy to drink! You can add it to orange juice if you want which makes it even better! Just be mindful of the sugar in the juice ;)

* Look through everything! Make sure you understand it all before starting!

*In the Guide book that comes with the Challenge...I went through a few days ahead and marked out with a marker (you can use white out or pencil) covering up the products I was not using. For example I didn't use the Carb-ease, so where that was listed I covered it up. It was SO much easier to read the check list of things I was actually using!!  Also I only did a few days ahead at a time in case it changed...like I started using Catalyst 2 times a day instead of one.

*First thing I did when I got my package was set it up and lay it out on my kitchen table. I loved seeing it all laid out. It keeps me organized & motivated!

There are two options to organizing you can try:

1) Lay everything out in order of the 24 days which I can explain further on & then the night before lay out what you will use in the morning (see photo below).

2) The second option is to prepackage everything before you start into bags labeled by day which I plan on doing the rest of the challenge and may do for friends trying it :)

  

Photo below...everything laid out in basic order of the 24 Days. Any questions on how to lay it all out or other questions just comment below! 

My Mantras & Motivation Board

These are the mantras I am using to lose weight, continue eating clean & starting the Advocare 24 Day Challenge!:

*Just Say NO! #NoSugar #NoProcessedFoods #NoSweets

*EAT CLEAN

*You CAN Do It!

*Just Get Moving   Goal: 135 (lbs) 

*I am Strong! I am Fit! I am Healthy

* I got this! More importantly God's got this!

*Love Yourself <3 Love Your Body

*GOAL: 135...But its just a #, its more about how you feel!

*Your body is a temple. Use it to worship God. Use it for HIS Glory!

RESULTS=FEEL GREAT...New You, New Clothes, Energy, No Shame, No Cropped Photos, Beach Body, Hello Mirror! 

***What are you favorite mantras or motivational phrases? Or what inspires you? Such as your children, setting an example for your family, not wanting to battle the mirror every day, or just being able to wear a bikini to the beach...? 

If you have any questions about the challernge, products or results hit me up in the comments below

Reasons I Use AdvoCare & Why You Should Too

*They are nutritional supplements! Not some trendy weight loss products! I'm not a doctor but the way my friend explained it to me & the way it makes the most sense is...the products fill in the gaps with nutrients where your body needs it, supplying your body with great vitamins & amino acids! 

*It works! I've seen countless success stories on other blogs & have personally seen my friend's life change... health wise & financially. Plus after two years she's kept the weight off & looks amazing!

*All the planning has been done for me ....
I don't have to figure out when to take supplements, its planned out for me

*Don't have to think about what I need...don't need to stand in GNC and piece together a plan of supplements, shakes etc. Everything is set up to help you succeed.

*There's a panel of doctors testing and researching all the products

*There are countless success stories and transformations! 

*Its SO much fun! I love the challenge the way they've set it up is easy & fun to follow.

* I finally have energy! I tried Spark before trying the challenge & this stuff is amazing! The energy I have to work out makes me not dread the gym/exercising!

If you've tried the challenge or are doing it now, what made you try it?

Why I am trying the AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge

24 Day Advocare Challenge!

*See my disclaimer below ;) this is not an attempt to try and sell you anything....its  simply---
Why I am doing the challenge, Why I was even willing to try it & Why I'm so glad I did:

I don't know why but I love the name of it! I think its because 24 days is so doable & the fact it is a "challenge" is exciting & brings out my inner competitor! Its a competition with myself to reach my goals & to say "You CAN Do This" when the mirror says..."Good luck, have you seen yourself lately?".
With the average results on the challenge being 10lbs & 10 inches in the first 24 days. How could I not check it out? My goal is to lose about 60lbs or whatever makes me feel my best & most comfortable with my body. So the challenge is a great starting place!

Let's get to the details....

**Why I started the challenge**
First off I am not one to spend money on weight loss products!! I am skeptical of everything out there & I'm SUPER picky about what I put in my body. I do not eat fried or greasy foods (long story short had gallbladder surgery & literally can't eat those foods). I eat mostly "clean" (if you want to know more about what that means see my post about it). I hate eating out because I don't like not having control what they put in the food (i.e. added salt, preservatives).
That being said....I was tired of eating healthy & still not losing weight! I've been trying to lose the baby weight, from having my daughter, for over a year now. I was tired of being sick & tired, yo-yo dieting, tired of the daily battle with the mirror. I was tired of cropping myself out of family photos...and while I hated the idea that my daughter would some day think I was fat, even more so I hated the idea that wouldn't see her mother in family photos because I was too ashamed. I hated the example I was giving my daughter of poor body image. I know, I know I "just had a baby"...and that excuse kept me pacified for a while, but the truth is, I lost weight during pregnancy & have been battling my weight for years. So...NO MORE EXCUSES...ENOUGH was ENOUGH!
But I couldn't do it alone...I was failing miserably.

*Why I Was Willing to Try It**

After struggling for too long, I saw a post from a friend about all the energy she had from something called "Spark". After feeling SO tired for months that I was tested for Mono( didn't have it- Praise the Lord), I was willing to try it. But I was skeptical that it was like other energy drinks out there ( I won't touch that stuff!). So I googled every ingredient listed and found nothing sketchy about them, in fact they appeared to be healthy! So my friend sent me a sample and I liked it but wanted to know more. I had seen her life, body & health change over the course of two years & how she also kept off the weight. Her testimony was so great & the products seemed healthy (there's also a board of doctors that test them & such).
Long story short...not really I know ;)...I chose to start the challenge as a way to "fill in the gaps" as my friend says, where my body needed help, using AdvoCare's nutritional supplements & vitamin Spark drink.

PROGRESS/HOW I FEEL:
Let me just say I feel amazing, happier & more confident!! I am so happy I started the challenge & am getting my butt into gear! I'm on day 5 and down about 5 inches overall (like 2 inches from waist...etc). Even if I wasn't down in inches yet, the fact that I feel so good is amazing enough! I was so sluggish and blah before I would sleep in til 11am just because I didn't want to start my day deal with the constant battle against my body. Now...I am getting up @ 7:30/8 each morning...because I WANT to & I'm excited to start another day! I have so much smooth energy without the crash or jitters and fall asleep easily at night. I can relax during the day without feeling like the energizer bunny on speed...though I do feel like that bunny in way because I can keep going all day! Not only can I get a ton done now but it helps me keep up with a high needs, very exhausting 1 year old. Also I have been working out a bunch which again is a feat after months of feeling like I had mono & couldn't make it up our 2 flights of stairs without wanting a nap!
So, even if I don't lose a ton of weight in the first 24 days, this has been such a great week & a great kick in the butt to finally be able to start reaching my goal.

Disclaimer: Let me first start off saying I am not one to try and sell things to people...its just not me! I worked in retail for years & it always felt weird to me having a job that tries to get people to buy something. The only time I was really successful @ a job was working for a tea company & simply because I am passionate about tea (seriously I'm a tea fanatic!-- that's another post for another time ;) ) & I am passionate about people's health and well being. So for me selling tea didn't feel like "selling" something because, I just wanted people to fall in love with tea & the benefits as much as I did! So that being said....I am only sharing this because I am super passionate about people's health, well being & happiness...my goal in life has always been to help as many people as I can & change lives for the better...and if this can change someone's life, I would feel guilty NOT sharing this!! Plus I'm that girl that finds an amazing eye liner or lotion and just have to share it with my friends...that's what friends do ;)
My motive is not trying to sell anyone this, just sharing my story, why I love this challenge & give tips based on what I am finding works for me. If you want to buy it, by all means hit me up, try it out & I would LOVE to help you reach your goals & come alongside in your journey!

Peace, Love & Blessings < 3
--One Happy Mama

For those of you who have tried the challenge or are doing it now, what made you try it? Did you have a friend who did it or did you have an ENOUGH is ENOUGH moment like me?