At the start of the summer, I had a workout goal and a weight loss goal. For the last month I started picking up overtime at work and had to prepare the kids to start school. So without the workout, I had no weight loss. I also started slackin on the good eating. I was afraid I had put the weight back on but I am glad to say that I hadn't.

I kept busy and was always up and moving, trying to spend more time with my kids and rearrange some things around the house along with getting rid of what we don't need. I had been eating more and not so great things at times. The main point is that I didn't over eat and I didn't stop moving.

For getting back into the workout and weight loss game, I have much more time since the boys are in school, YAY-YEAH! I went back to the basic plan of the fat smash diet, although I like to start with the 2nd phase and hover in it for as long as possible. I'm stepping up my workout by doing one of my favorite workout DVDs, Can You 24 by AdvoCare, AND taking a 2 mile walk. I'm going to see what 2 weeks do then revise my goals from there.

http://www.missyfromohio.blogspot.com

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As most of you know, I had recently started INSANITY. I made it to the last week and a half then started picking up overtime at work. Since I had been doing overtime and was very busy with a cramped schedule, I wanted to still have the time for my kids, I gave up the workout routine because it was taking too long. Don't worry though, the time spent with my kids was either swimming or bike riding!

So even though I was still getting exercise, I was not getting a workout to tone my muscles. I didn't have the time or energy to do INSANITY with all of the extra hours put into being awake, so I went back to my AdvoCare workout series: Can You 24.

The main reason I chose this one, is because I used it a couple of times before and knew it is only 24 minutes long. The reason I had only used it a couple of times, was because I didn't think it did much and I thought it was boring. Now, after having a heart rate monitor and having done INSANITY, I definitely appreciate it more!

Let me explain the AdvoCare workout series. There are 2 DVDs. Each one has SCULPT, SHRED, MELT, and CORE STRETCH. There is DVD 1 and 2. Between the 2 DVDs there are 6 different workouts and 2 stretches. On each video, there is a color strip on the count down timer for beginner, intermediate, and expert. These exercises only take 24 minutes each.

The first time I did this, I maybe could make it to the end of the intermediate timer and I was slow at the exercises. This is why I felt the workout didn't do much. After having done INSANITY, I thought to myself that there is no way that this DVD would compare so I better go with the intermediate workout. 

It wasn't hard, but it did push me. It went quick so I could have more time for other necessities, which was lovely. And I wasn't in horrible pain after I was done. After 25 minutes I burned 322 calories which makes the AdvoCare workout series very comparable to INSANITY. With insanity, I typically burnt 700-850 in about twice as long. With this I was very satisfied because I figured I'd only be burning around 200 calories.

I've changed my opinion on the AdvoCare workout series. I thought it was good at first but after a few exercises I couldn't stay with it because I started to dislike it. After having done INSANITY which I really did like, I started having no time for it. Many people don't stay with INSANITY because its not for them. INSANITY is very intense and is definitely not for those who are not already in shape. The AdvoCare workout series can be used by anybody even if this is the first time you've ever worked out and allows room for growth.

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Today is Mother's Day, and what did I get? INSANITY, BOXING GLOVES WITH SPARRING MITS, and HEART RATE MONITOR WITH CALORIE TRACKER! This is awesome! Gonna start in 2 weeks, right after I finish my 30 DAYS OF BETTER HEALTH.

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Looking for a high protein post workout snack? Homemade Clif Bars can be made ahead of time so when you're wore out from your workout,( and you should be!) you can just stumble your weak ass to the fridge and grab. Couldn't be more simple. And my added bonus for you is the special ingredient in the Spark. 2 coconut milk ice cubes and 4 pieces of frozen pineapple, YUM!

INGREDIENTS:
9 oz. box of prunes
9 oz. box of figs
1/2 of a 12 oz. box of raisins
2 cups unsweetened coconut (I had to buy A coconut and open it. Here's how)
1 cups of walnuts
1 cups of almonds
1.5 cups of peiptas (pumpkin seeds)
Cinnamon to taste

This is really simple directions. I put the nuts and seeds into my processor until they were crumbs but not turning sticky. Then I did the same to the coconut. I took the prunes, figs and raisins and puréed them then added the rest of the ingredients until it was uniform. I flattened it on a tray then baked it for 25ish minutes at 350 degrees. You could do it less if you wanted them to be gooey, it's your call.

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What type of workout routine do you like? Do you get motivated at the gym every other day? Or maybe you're the type that just likes to get up and put your headphones in and jog every day. Or maybe you're like me and work an odd schedule and can't seem to get a routine down.

That's just it. I used to workout at the gym and lost 20 lbs doing so. Then I got. 2nd shift job. I still made the attempt to workout at the Y but my kids hated the daycare there. It made it rough to try to go. Then getting the kids ready instead of being able to just jump up and leave. Sometimes it seemed like an all day event.

I then decided how much easier it would be if I exercised at home so I went with p90x. It is amazing, if you have 1hr 30min everyday of uninterrupted time to devote to this. I do not.

After much discouragement I found something that has been beginning to show promise in the fact that I have been able to fit in a workout every other day this week and plan on doing one or 2 every day.

I have the Can You 24 by AdvoCare. It is a 2 DVD set that has 7 different workouts. There is Melt 1&2, Shred 1&2, Sculpt 1&2 and Core Stretch. The bonus part that didn't look so promising is the fact that it is only 24 minutes long.

So far from what I've tried I thought the Shred 1 was pretty intense. I felt it the whole next day as well as the day after that. In fact, I decided to do a less intense workout for my second workout because I was still feeling it. Keep in mind that I have always been an active person that in no way is shy of hard work. So much in not believing in 24 minutes of exercise.

After having had the pleasure of knowing how intense shred was, I figured I'd go with Sculpt 1. It sounded waste right? Well I wasn't paying attention and grabbed the 2nd DVD. So I went with Sculpt 2. Yeah, apparently that's how the makers of the DVD planned it, 2 to be more intense than 1. It wasn't to hard to stick with, and I didn't fall to the fetal position like I did with p90x. It was 24 minutes of very intense workouts that I can definitely say I do feel the burn but I can still recover quite nicely and do all the motherly house wife chores I need to do before my 12 hour night at work.

Final thoughts? This DVD is very versatile to the fact that you can have very intense workouts and switch it up so you don't get burnt out. And if you just aren't feeling as intense of workout, you can do less intense exercises from the first DVD to even just the stretch DVD. If you miss a workout, there's no need to beat yourself up over ONLY 24 minutes. And if you're feeling extra motivated, you can throw in a 2nd workout, bike ride, jog... whatever you want really, you'll have the time.

I hope you all have the right workout routine for you. I also hope that if you're having trouble finding routine, that I have helped you realize that a workout doesn't need to be every day or more than an hour of high intensity to be effective.

Missy Davis
AdvoCare Distributor
MissyFromOhio@gmail.com
(937)239-6048

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