My 2nd Advocare 24 Day Challenge: Days 4-9 (The Cleanse Phase)

I seriously do not feel like I am on a "diet" yes I am spending more time in the kitchen meal prepping and at the grocery store but its been so easy this time around. I wanted to share some pictures of what I am eating.


Dry Chicken Masala Recipe: heat 1 tbsp. coconut oil, add handful onions and 1 chopped tomato, 4 cloves and cook with lid on, then add 4 cubed chicken breast, 2 tsp tumeric powder, cilantro (dry or fresh) 1 tbsp. fresh garlic & ginger, salt and pepper. cook and stir for about 20 min

My friend Margie (her blog here) bought a box from Amazon..taste like tofu skin, your better off having spaghetti squash)

Meal prepping: Lunch: Mung bean fettucine marinara / Breakfast: Boiled eggs Snack: Fruit

Meal Prepping: Grilled tilapia & roasted potatoes

Fresh juice at the mall: Spinach, ginger, apple and carrot ( I hate shopping at the mall, but losing all this weight has me guessing sizes!)

A typical breakfast if I don't have a meal replacement and boiled eggs (Scrambled egg with peppers, onions and whole wheat toast..ya too much butter...oops!)

Dinner: Dry Chicken Masala, steamed veggies (frozen bag from SAMS Club, and fresh whole wheat tortilla from HEB bakery)

The grocery shopping continues. I am pretty stocked till mid next week....... I hope.

And here's my lovely shopping assistant! Hope this post was helpful. I have a lot more pics to share so stay tuned.
 

 

My 2nd Advocare 24 Day Challenge: Days 1 - 3

So today is Day 3 of my 2nd Advocare 24 Day Challenge.  Last time I did the challenge I skipped some supplements because I ended up being out longer than expected so I highly recommend making these bags and grabbing it on your way out. It took less than 30 minutes to make 2 sets. Each bag contains all the daily essentials for a full day on the challenge.

 

 

 

 

Quick trip to SAMS Club

 

Here are some of the quick meals I prepared. I am very tempted to just buy some pre-made meals but it is so easy just to make this stuff if you just commit a small amount of time in the kitchen. I do recommend buying some pre-cut fruits like pineapples and cantaloupes and frozen ready to steam veggies.

Love Larabars!

Carrots with hummas

Ground chicken with veggies

Fuji Apples and fresh Almond Butter
 

Homemade Hummas



I will try to do more posts to give you ideas but if I am slacking check out my instagram @blushandglowbyartee and if you have any questions please leave a comment or send me an email artee0404@gmail.com or if you are ready to join me on the challenge you can purchase products here

Advocare Weight Loss

I started the Advocare 24 Day challenge March 2, 2014 with the goal to lose the weight I gained from my pregnancy. I lost 8 lbs in 24 days but what was more amazing is that I lost an additional 12 lbs after and I still continue to lose weight each week by eating clean (I cheat), working out and staying on a few advocare products. I have never felt so healthy and I am even off my blood pressure medication I was put on after I delivered my daughter.

Why Advocare? I was skeptical at first but I kept seeing the "24 Day Challenge" everywhere and seeing amazing before and after pictures. I gained 60 lbs. from my pregnancy. I lost 30 lbs. but could not lose the 30 lbs. I had left. Diet and exercise was not working. I decided that once I was done nursing my daughter I was gonna give it a try.

This is not a quick fix or a magic pill. It takes work, especially if you are not used to eating healthy. It also is not cheap but its worth every penny for the results.

Do I have to workout during the challenge? No and to be honest I only did a few times during the 24 days but I do workout 3 times a week now. I recommend doing some sort of exercise even if its walking and of course you will get better results if you do.

So what is the 24 Day Challenge? The first 10 days is the cleanse phase which consist of a fiber drink, meal replacement shakes, vitamins and eating clean (unlimited fruits, veggies, meats, protein). Days 11-24 is the max phase - you eat the same as the cleanse phase but you add in additional vitamins and probiotic supplements.

If you are up to the challenge you can order the 24 Day Challenge HERE or if you are in the Greater Houston Area I can meet you at a central location to deliver the challenge to you so you don't have to pay for shipping. If you have any questions I will be happy to answer them. You can ask me anything and I will trymy best to answer it. You can contact me at artee0404@gmail.com

These are the products I stayed on after the challenge:

Spark (Days when I decide to skip coffee - Watermelon & Mango Strawberry flavor are my favs)
Catalyst (I take 2 the days I workout)
Meal Replacement Shakes (perfect breakfast for this busy mommy - Berry flavor since I don't eat chocolate but I heard Chocolate Mocha is good)
Post Workout Recovery (I have been doing a lot of lifting in crossfit so I decided to try this out)

Life after the challenge:

I am still amazed by my results and that is why I am sharing my story. I come from a family with lots of medical issues and I want to do everything I can do to be healthy for my daughter. I crossfit 3 times a week and make healthy food choices. I plan to do the 24 Day Challenge again on July 1st and will be documenting it on this blog. My good friend and her hubby started the challenge today - Read about her journey HERE (She's a photographer so her pics are perfect!)

Click here for everything you need to get started on the 24 Day Challenge

Blush and Glow Bridal Client: Deepa

Deepa came into the studio today to get her hair and makeup done for her engagement shoot. She wanted a natural peachy bronze look and half up hair with natural waves.
Here is the finished look.

Eyes: Mac "Amber lights" on lid and "Bronze" in her crease
Blush: Mac "Coppertone"
Lips: Mac lip liner in "Lure" and Lip Tar in "Kava Kava" with a gold lip gloss
Lashes are Broadway #117
 

Zaiya's First Halloween

Baby: Zaiya Ocean is 4 months old

Hi Loves! Notice anything different? I have a new blog design! For a while I thought I was not going to be blogging anymore but I have had a change of heart. There are just to many things I want to document and my baby girl is on top of that list. (Don't worry...beauty posts and non baby related topics are in the works!)

I seriously don't even know how 4 months have passed by! Next week she will be taking her first plane ride to NY for my cousins wedding! (wish us luck) I did a mini photo session with my doll on Sunday. Here are some of my favorite pics & some fun facts:

Weight:11.5 lbs
Drinking: 4 oz. of Breast Milk every 3 hours (I am still nursing)
Naps: Every 3 hours for 45 min
Sleeping: 6-7 hours straight at night
Talking: A lot! Cooing, yelling, gremlin sounds, baby talk non stop (especially around Daddy)
Smiling: All the time
Eyes: They are still Grey (Like her great grandmother <his side> & Great Grandfather <my side>)
Bath & Massage time: Loves bath time and Massages sometimes

Hope everyone has a great week! I have a full weekend of bridal clients coming up. Check my instagram for pics of my clients this weekend, I will be posting a lot! http://instagram.com/artistalovesart

BLUSH AND GLOW CLIENTS

One of our clients at Blush and Glow was featured in the Summer issue of Inside Weddings Magazine.

Here are some pics of my recent Bridal Clients:

Classic Red Lips

Side braid and loose curls

Loose low do

Dramatic Smokey eyes for an Indian Wedding Reception

Golden Bronze eyes and a side ponytail with soft curls

The hot mess on my counter after a long day 

Homemade Bars

On my quest to eat clean after baby I made these super easy mixed nut bars this weekend.

Ingredients:
1 can deluxe mixed nuts
1 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup Agave Nectar or Honey
1 Tbsp Cinnamon
1 egg white

Whip one egg white and add all the ingredients and mix. You can add more or less sugar and really anything else you want. Next time I plan to add dried fruit.

Place in a cupcake pan and bake on 350 degrees for 20 min.

Wait for the bars to cool before you remove them from the pan.

Guess who's Back!

Lipstck: Revlon Lip Butter in "Raspberry Pie"

Hi everyone! I have been trying to do a blog post for almost a month now. Motherhood has changed my life and I am loving every minute of it. I plan and hope to blog more this year starting with at least one post a week.

Zaiya was born April 4, 2013. She came 3 weeks early. My pregnancy was smooth up until the last month I developed Preclampsia. I gained close to 60 lbs! I've lost 30 and have 30 lbs more to go. I am trying to eat clean and get to the gym at least 2-3 times a week.

A part of me wanted to have that dramatic "MY WATER BROKE!! RUSH ME TO THE HOSPITAL"
type of scenario like the movies but here I am walking (waddling) calmly to my hospital room.

3.5 months old

Pregnancy Update: 3rd Trimester

I know it's been months since I have posted but to be honest I just have not been motivated. I didn't want to force a post. I still don't feel like doing this post but a part of me wants to. You see, 2 weeks before I found out I was pregnant (July) I found out that someone very dear to me was diagnosed with cancer. Gioblastoma Stage 4 (Brain Tumor) to be exact. I am not saying that is the reason I stopped blogging but I don't know. My friend is still alive and fighting for his life everyday. He was so full of energy and really lived the perfect life and then just one visit to the doctor for a physical - his life will never be the same. All I can do is keep praying for him.

Anyways, this is supposed to be a pregnancy update.

Gender: Baby Girl aka Ocean

Cravings: No major cravings but I am eating anything I want, I don't think twice when I pull up to a drive through. Tomatoes with salt pepper and OO is something I am eating more of.

Sleep: Better but I wake up and toss and turn all night. Most nights I wake up for 2 hours (Pinterest time). Lots of trips to the bathroom (TMI...?)

Body Changes: I am wider and I have lost all the muscle I worked so hard to form doing crossfit! No stretch marks yet. I am oiling it up with BioOil and this special homemade oil my sister makes.

Weight Gain: I am packing 25 LB's baby! I have major achy feet in the am and sciatic pain if I am on my feet too long.

Work Outs: Prenatal yoga 2 times a week if I am good

Things missed: Crossfit and Spin class, lunch meat, sushi, a cold beer and I really really want a martini!!!

Maternity Clothes: I live in my gap maternity super soft leggings. Lately I have been wearing the Mr.'s tees and I officially can't wear heels unless I want to pay the consequences the next day.

New Experiences: She is moving much more and its so uncomfortable when she does.

Look Forward to:  Getting home from work everyday and lounging in my pjs with a cup of tea. I am trying to soak up all this alone time before she gets here.

Nursery: Almost done stenciling the wall. The crib and glider is here. The room is going to be all white and silver.

27 WEEKS

With all these changes I am going through my Mr. has been amazing. As nervous as I am - the excitment in his eyes makes me know I have nothing to worry about. Holy shit! I am growing a human being inside my belly! I still can't believe I am bringing life into this crazy world!
Happy Friday Friends!
xoxo Artista