I Was a Skeptic Too: The Advocare 24 Day Challenge

With all of the chaos that ensues in my home, it's imperative that I keep myself healthy. I try to eat right (but let's face it, junk food is the GOAT) and I exercise regularly (I have a permanent knee injury and a toddler. Regularly means at least 6 times... a month) but I need more. Since having a baby in my mid-30s, I've struggled with my weight, exhaustion, self-esteem, and depression. Now, what I'm about to tell you by no means cured my obesity, my lethargy, my depression, or made me feel like I'm suddenly sexy again. It has only been a tool to help motivate me to start feeling like ME again.

Every 90 days, I do the 24 Day Challenge. The first few times I did the challenge, I was recovering from microfracture knee surgery.  Due to the surgery, I wasn't able to incorporate exercise with my challenge but my metabolism did receive a jump start and I "felt" good. I don't know about you but when I feel good, it motivates me to feel even better.

I'm about to start another 24 Day Challenge. This will be my 1 year mark. I'm still not where I want to be but I'm not where I was. Since losing the weight, I'm running again. In fact, I just ran my first half marathon a few weeks ago. I cried as I crossed the finish line because I was told I'd never run again. Did the 24 Day Challenge do this for me? No. Did the 24 Day Challenge keep me motivated and give me energy to keep going? Yes. Did the 24 Day Challenge cure my depression and lack of positive self-image? No. But running did. (Beautiful cycle, right?) I can promise I wouldn't be where I am if it weren't for the 24 Day Challenge to keep me on track.

This isn't a miracle or a cure. This isn't a diet or a gimmick. You have to put in work. You have to want it. But when you put in work and work with the 24 Day Challenge, it will work for you.
If you're interested in doing a challenge with me, there will be a group of us starting on April 6th. Here's a link to order your products. http://www.advocare.com/140432969 Feel free to ask any questions!

I'm really embarrassed to share this but I think it's important for perspective. Here's what I looked like just before I started my first 24 Day Challenge and also a current photo:

Here We Go

Well. D comes home on Friday. To be one-hundred percent honest, I have mixed feelings. I miss him terribly, he's one of the funniest people I know and he has such a kind heart. But I'm a little nervous too. I'm apprehensive for an emotional outburst like his last one. OK... I'm downright terrified of another outburst like his last one. I've been praying over him and our family for an easy transition and for D to understand his full potential. If you have any extra prayers lying around, our family would appreciate a few.

Update on the bill: The bill is still a huge issue. Blue Cross and Blue Shield denied payment on his treatment. They denied to pay a single penny for mental health care that kept my son alive. Let that soak in for a minute... Since BCBS denied payment, I was advised to apply for a medicaid spend down (but not approved for medicaid). This is a very intrusive and complicated application process. The state requires to see every item that I spend every dollar on. They require car payoffs, insurance docs, home loan payoffs, pay statements and student loan balances. (I'm pretty sure this information is not required of someone applying for basic medicaid.) HOWEVER, I'm thankful for the days the spend down did cover, even if they're making me apply a second time. Weird. So far the total for my responsibility is right at $40,000. In the end, it will probably be double if not more than that. But I'm not going to let that worry  me. Worry is practical atheism and I know my God will provide. (Right God? You're reading this, right?)