Days 18-19 - New recipe, another Migraine and I'm DONE.

Days 18 and 19...big changes.

But first....

I did make a yummy recipe last night that is another one of my old WW recipes.

Monterey Chicken

Serves: 4

WWP: 6

4 (5 oz.) Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
1/4 Cup Barbecue Sauce
1/4 Cup Hormel Real Bacon Bits
1 Cup 2% Colby and Monterey Jack Shredded Cheese*
1 (14 oz.) Can Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies, drained (optional)

Or 1 medium chopped tomato (optional) I do this option
Sliced Green Onions (optional) I do not add
Salt & Pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Pound out the chicken breasts to flatten.

Season each with a little salt & pepper.
Cook the chicken in a skillet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray over medium-low heat until no longer pink.(or in oven on about 350 for 20 minutes)
Place each breast onto a baking sheet and top each breast with 1 tablespoon of barbeque sauce, 1/4 cup cheese, 1/4 cup tomatoes, green onions and 1 tablespoon of bacon bits. (I add the bacon FIRST when layering- it stays put better!)
Place into the oven and bake until the cheese has melted (about 5 minutes).


Per Serving: 263 Calories; 8g Fat (29.0% calories from fat); 39g Protein; 6g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 108mg Cholesterol; 840mg Sodium. Exchanges: 4 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.

 

I served dinner with a litle brown rice, roasted green beans and mushrooms (tossed with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar and roasted) and some grapes (for my girls)!

 

 

But here is the deal. Day 19 and I got another migraine. That makes 2 in 8 days. I've had like ONE migraine in my entire life before these two. And this one was rather scary for me.

According to reearch I did this morning about migraines. What happened to me is what I highlighted in red:

Phase Two: Aura
Approximately 15 to 20% of individuals with migraines experience an aura, or visual distortions, preceding the headache. Some people only experience the aura phase, which is a phenomenon called a "silent migraine." The aura phase usually begins minutes or hours before the onset of headache pain. Visual symptoms during aura can include:

• Blurred vision
• Appearance of floaters (tiny specks that float before the eyes)
• Flashes of light or color, or blurry vision
• A blind spot or even complete blindness in one eye

Additional symptoms of the aura phase can include:

• Numbness or tingling of the hands, feet, and/or face (particularly around the mouth)
• Stiff neck
• Weakness
• Vertigo or Dizziness
• Loss of balance
• Ringing in the ears
• Double vision
• Difficulty talking
• Slow thinking or confusion
• Problems with concentration
• Changes in mood and activity level

Because some of these symptoms can also occur with other conditions, such as a detached retina or stroke, individuals suffering any of these symptoms for the first time should check with their healthcare provider to ensure that their symptoms are the result of a migraine episode.

Phase Three: Headache
This is the phase most commonly associated with migraines. The headache of a migraine is a one-sided, throbbing or pounding pain. It causes between 4 to 72 hours of moderate to severe pain (mine lasted about 8 hours before I finally just went to bed!) A headaches that last longer than 72 hours are called s"tatus migrainosus", and require immediate medical attention.The headache is the most disruptive of the phases. To avoid increasing the severity of headache, individuals who have reached this phase usually stop all activity and lie down in a quiet, darkened room, avoiding all stimulation. In addition to the pulsing head pain, the headache is normally associated with a number of other unsavory symptoms, including:

• Extreme sensitivity to light (photophobia), sound (phonophobia) and smell
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Increased pain with physical activity (such as walking or going up or down stairs)

So....with two of these beauties happening to me just since I started the 2nd part of the Challenge, I can't help but wonder???  Yesterday's incident was enough to scare me straight. It honestly felt like the time I had a concussion. Blurry & double vision and weird light flashes in my right eye. I couldn't form words or sentences. I couldn't hold a conversation because I couldn't think or talk. It was strange and scary. Now- I have NO idea if migraines are a side effect of Advocare MNS. NONE - I haven't done that research yet, but as for me and my body - something is going on and the only new thing introduced to it in the last few weeks in the MNS.

So, I'm done.
I'm not going to finish the 24 Day Challenge. In all honesty, I'm kinda scared TO finish it.

In 19 complete days:

Total weight lost = 4 lbs
Total inches lost = 1.7 inches TOTAL

The 24-Day challenge was not successful for me. That doesn't mean it won't be for successful for someone else. If you are considering the Challenge, I urge you to do a little bit of research about the products BEFORE you start. I did not. I wanted to go in blind without any preconception or a biased attitute of how it might or might not work. Hindsight being what it is, I wish I'd done some research on what was in the supplements (or I wish I had just known the AMOUNT of supplements I'd be taking each day). I feel like I let my Advocare gal down. I tried, I really did. I just have to listen to my body. 

I feel somewhat liberated this morning by not having to take the 7 supplements I would have already taken by this time of day (and the 4 more to come!).

I am starting Weight Watchers soon. I really would like like to lose 10-15 lbs. That is it. I'm never going to be super skinny again. Its just not happening. Oh sure, I could lose 30 lbs by mid-summer, but if I were being honest with myself, I know I can't maintain that. I can probably maintain a 10-15 lbs loss. And I'm never going to be a exercise queen. Its just not going to happen.

I am not going to be blogging anymore about my Advocare journey. I am either going to change the name or possibly starting a new one with just healthy recipes and stuff. Hubby is going to start the Insanity Workout soon, too, and that diet is VERY similar to the Advocare diet, minus the supplements, but with the increased protein (which will be different than what I'm going to be doing - this should be interesting!!). Well, all I can do is keep providing healthy dinners on the table and having healthy choices in the pantry and frig. 

Here we go again....

Days 16-17 - More of the same

Days 16 & 17 are more of the same....

Dinner on Day 16 was Salsa chicken "quesadillas" for dinner. Monday nights are insane at our house, so I need something on those nights that I can eat and run.

Basically - I threw 2 lbs of chicken breasts into the crockpot, sprinkled them with a little taco seasoning and added a jar of salsa. It cooked about 5 hours on low and it was done (sometimes I do 6-8 hours on low or 3 hours on high). I shredded it all up and mixed it well, and left the top off for the last 15 minutes or so as to allow it to thicken up. I've had this recipe in my files for years....like 10 years or longer. Its a old stand-by that can be customized in many, many ways.

I ate mine with a sprinkling of cheese and 1/2 of an avacado on a wheat tortilla. For dinner- I actually "grilled" mine on the griddle so the tortialla was nice and crispy and then I cut it into triangles. I ate the avacado slices on top. For lunch on Day 17, I basically had the same thing, except I squished up 1/2 of an avacodo on a wrap, added about 3/4 cup of the heated up chicken-salsa mixture, rolled it all up and ate it (no cheese). It was also good this way. I've used the mixture in tacos, on nachos or even  on top of baked potatoes. Its pretty versatile. Some people add corn or black beans to it- I don't like either of those things, so I don't. Some people add cream cheese. I've done that, too, but it really doesn't change the overall taste too much, so like to keep it healthier and don't add the cream cheese. (fyi- below is not my photo- its a stock photo I found on Google images- but its exactly what mine looks like.)



Dinner last night was Baked Tilapia. It was good, but very "garlicy". My house still smells this morning! I served it with Quinao, broccoli, carrots and fruit salad. But here is the kicker- my 9 year old ate an entire filet of tilapia. NEVER.BEFORE.HAS.THAT.HAPPENED.   EVER. I was in total and complete shock. I originally gave her 1/2 of one to taste. She ate it all and asked for more. She was given another 1/4 of the filet - she ate it and asked for more. She ate it all. SHOCK. I am in SHOCK.

Baked Tilapia3 ounce tilapia filets
Pam (olive oil flavor)
salt
pepper
garlic powder
minced garlic

Preheat oven to 450°. In glass baking dish, spray Pam.Lightly coat the top of filets with Pam,Season well with salt, pepper, garlic powder and lots of minced garlic. Bake for 20 minutes.

For me personally, the garlic was pretty overpowering  in this recipe and I like a little bit of other flavors, too. I like the Broiled Tilapia Oreganata better. I have a Broiled Tilapia Pamesan recipe that is really good, too. I'm making that this coming weekend, along with a meatloaf recipe. Yes- meatloaf.  A healthy meatloaf recipe. I used to make it ALL THE TIME. When my oldest daughter was just starting to eat  "solid" foods, I was on my post-baby Weight Watchers diet plan and I made this recipe many times. SHE LOVED IT. She would eat as much or more per meal then either my hubby or me. Now- she won't touch it. Go figure. Maybe she'll suprise me- she DID eat the tilapia, after all! I'll post that recipe after I make it.


So, how is my 24-Day Challenge going? Well...I wish I could say SUCCESSFUL!!!  But, no.

I've still only lost 3 lbs and no inches after 17 days. Okay - maybe 1/2 inch on my chest and 1/2 inch on my leg, that is if I'm measuring in the exact same place I measured on Day 1. :-) I was SOOOO hoping that I'd be blogging about losing 1 pound every few days and by now- I'd be down by 8-9 lbs. I'm disappointed.  But, I'm over it. I'm still plugging along doing what I'm supposed to be doing. It is what it is. I wanted to try something different, hence the 24-Day Challenge, but in the end, I'll be going back to what works for ME - Weight Watchers.

I think I'm eating TOO MUCH protein on the 24-Day Challenge and its why I'm not loosing weight. And my urologist would not be happy with me- she told me to cut DOWN on the protein or I'd be back in her office with another kidney stone.  I sooooo do not want to do that again. Ever. That little stone ended up costing more than the diamond on my left hand! Not to mention it hurt worse than childbirth. Yes...it did.

Again - different body types = different ways of successfully losing weight. 

And there is always exercise...or lack thereof. I just cannot do it consistently. I KNOW this lack of exercise hinders and slows weight loss. Its MY fault. I know that. Its not going to change. I could tell you I was going to change- that I was going to work out 4-5 times a week. I'd be lying.

Sorry Advocare peeps - please, please know that I'm probably NOT the norm. I am probably in the 5% of people that do not have success with the 24-Day Challenge. Its just not the right fit for me or my life. I'm totally ok with that. I am going to finish the program, though. I've adjusted my goal to 5 lbs. If I can lose 5 lbs total, I will be happy. I'm totally jealous of everyone that lost 12-15 lbs doing the Challenge, though. 

Tonight was originally going to be dinner at Church, but after seeing the "Valentines Dinner" menu of Beef Bourguignon Over Egg Noodles and Assorted Decadent Desserts, I may opt to stay home and eat left-over salsa chicken quesadillas. :-)

Day 13, 14 & 15 - spaghetti, FroYo, Eating out and Superbowl

The truth and nothing but the truth....

Friday- Day 13 - Shake for breakfast. Pink lemonade Spark a little later. Banana for snack. Leftovers from dinner the night before for lunch. Snack was a Baggie of bell pepper strips and one of those weird banana applesauce oatmeal cookies I made. Dinner was spaghetti with whole grain noodles, light no-sugar added sauce and 1 lb. of ground venison, which is similar to ground turkey. I served it with some frozen microwave "steam in the bag" green beans, which tasted like rubber. Yuck. I choked down about 1/2 cup and threw the rest away.

The kids have been begging for 2 weeks to go to our local frozen yogurt bar, so we caved. I had about  6 oz. of fat free banana and splurged with some Reeces Peanut Butter Cup crumbled on top.....so good!

Late night snack of fruit salad.

And yes, I took all the Max C supplements at the designated times.

And the morning of Day 14, I am down another pound. Total lost...4 1/2 lb. Yeah!

Saturday -Day 14 was the first "eat out" night on my meal calendar.  My youngest had her big ballet that night, so between getting her ready and having to be there an hour early, cooking wasn't happening! We ate at O'Charleys and I had the Chicken Bruscetta (under 550 calories) with asparagus. It was good. Not great. Its not what I REALLY wanted. And I didn't have any bread, but I wanted to. :-(

Sunday - Day 15 - I guess that Brushetta chicken had more calories than it claims - I gained 1 pound back. Boo! (yes, I'm blaming the chicken)

I'm really starting to hate this...one step forward, two steps back.

Superbowl Sunday- I ate well most of the day. Doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. Eating what I'm supposed to be eating. Taking ALL the Supplements when I'm supposed to. I splurged on dinner this night - Bob's smoked chicken wings (only 6), some Scoops and guac, cheese & crackers, fruits and vegies...and 1 beer.

And guess what - I gained 1/2 pound back. No surprise.

So - 15 total days are in the book. I've lost 3 lbs in two weeks. I'm frustrated. I realize I'm not 29 anymore...the pounds are not going to melt off of me just because I give up the foods I love. I'm going to have work harder. But I hate to exercise. I mean...HATE IT. So....what IS going to work? 

9 more days on the 24-Day Challenge. Not that I'm counting down or anything......

....and then I'm going back to Weight Watchers.

Day 12- Sticking with it & yummy chicken recipe

Wow- I really opened up a can of worms with my post yesterday! :-)  I had more page views than any other post and also more comments than all of my other posts combined. I heard from many of you offering advice and many of you sharing similar stories of your hard times or experiences with Advocare. It was nice to hear from BOTH sides. Thanks to everyone for that.

So - yesterday (day 12) was normal. Completely 100% normal. No weirdness. No crankiness or a bad case of the grumpies. I felt fine. I think what I just needed to do was give myself permission to make a decision - one way or the other. The "waivering" and "wrestling" with myself was driving me crazy. Once I decided to give it one more day, I felt better. Strange, I know. I don't like indecision. And I think the fact that started a ton of new supplements on Day 11 might have made my body chemistry all confused that day! Who knows- maybe it was the crazy weather? :-)

I've decided to stick with it and not change anything for now. I thought I might switch to the Max3 instead of the Max C that I'm currently taking, but really, yesterday was just fine. I don't really have a reason to switch for now. My Advocare gal gave me a few pointers, one of which was to drink the shake in the morning to add some protein to my diet in the morning. (which I did today - I made it in my kids' Magic Slushie cup....worked great!!) Another tip was to take the "30 minutes before meal" pack no MORE than 30 minutes before a meal...or even only 15 minutes before a meal, which I also did this morning (day 13 in actuality).

I tried the pink lemonade Spark this morning too- SO GOOD!  My favorite so far. Maybe cause its not nearly as sweet as the fruit punch? It reminded me of Crystal Lite pink lemonade.

And oh - I lost 1 1/2 more lbs. Total down is only 3 1/2...but its 3 1/2, right?

Yesterday I did alter my eating plan a little. Oatmeal and fruit for b'fast, which I will change from now on to add protein to my morning instead. Snack....a banana maybe? I forgot. Lunch - after taking my 30 minutes before lunch pack, I wasn't hungry. Not even a little bit. Nothing sounded good, so I had my first Meal Replacement shake for lunch. It was pretty yummy. I'm not sure I can drink one every single day, though. Afternoon snack was a baggie of bell pepper strips and something else- sorry - it was a crazy afternoon. Dinner was delish. I made a great chicken recipe, which has been a staple in my house for years. See below. I served it with a side of a stuffed portabelle mushroom (produce section at Kroger - only 80 calories!), roasted asparagus and tomatoes and Quinoa. Oh, and fruit salad.


After dinner - I made these Banana Oat "breakfast" cookies :

Full recipe:http://caloriecount.about.com/banana-oat-breakfast-cookies-watching-recipe-r1087838

I wish I could say they are GREAT! Fantastic! Awesome!  But...no. They are ok at best. They have a weird texture and a strange aftertaste. And maybe too much cinnamon? I wasn't impressed. I'll eat what I made, but I won't be making them again.

Here is the chicken recipe. I promise its REALLY GOOD!

Pan Glazed Chicken with Basil  

WW – 4pts each

4 skinless boneless chicken breasts (4 oz. each) or boneless thighs

2 teaspoons olive oil

¼  teaspoon salt

¼  teaspoon pepper

2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 Tablespoons honey

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh Basil (or 2 teaspoons dried leaves crushed, but its best with fresh)

Put oil in a skillet and heat to Medium high. 

Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper – I don’t                           measure it!

Cook chicken on medium-high for 5 minutes or until lightly browned.                    Flip it over and brown for about 6 minutes or until done.

 

Mix vinegar, honey and basil and drizzle over chicken and into skillet. Cook about one minute and flip it over for about one minute on the other side.  Very easy and very yummy!