Last Place Runner

I started my third round of Advocare’s 24 Day Challenge yesterday. Just to be clear, Advocare doesn’t pay me for anything I say or give me free products. I wish they did, but they have no idea who I am. I did my first challenge in June, my second at the end of September, and I started this one yesterday.

It was my intention to post photos and go all-out writing about the experience. I had a run scheduled yesterday, so I did that before I got ready to run one little errand. Then I was going to come home, prep my lunches for the week, write some, etc.

All I had to do was run my husband’s shirts to the cleaners, but as I was backing out of the driveway, he called to tell me my new phone had come in, so I ended up dropping off the shirts and going to Fayetteville for my phone. By the time I got back, it was lunch time and I hadn’t gotten anything ready.

The thing I really love most about this program is that you have to eat all the time! I’d had my huge breakfast and my morning snack before I left, but I was hungry by the time I got home. So I cooked a chicken breast to slice up over spring mix for lunch. Then I had to go ahead and cook a few more chicken breasts for the rest of the week, do dishes, start prepping dinner … And although I stayed on program (eating and training), the day got away from me before I was able to write about it.

Here’s another thing I love about the cleanse phase. I don’t know what it is — magic, I reckon — but by the second day my clothes are looser. I know I haven’t lost fat or muscle, but the intake of more fruits and vegetables with the fiber drink and herbal cleanse pills I took before bed just blasted all the bloat I was carrying around. And I’m not joking. Sunday night I went to bed feeling a lot of discomfort in my belly, probably from having eaten a lot of junk over the weekend.

When my friend Amber first started telling me about the products, I told her I knew people who had done “herbal cleanses” before and, no thanks, but I wasn’t interested in being in the bathroom all the time. She totally understood my concern, but she told me the Advocare herbal cleanse isn’t like that. I didn’t believe her. Eventually I decided to give it a try, though, and I was actually surprised how good I felt. We’re all friends here, so I can tell you that these cleanses actually make me feel way less farty than usual.

So, for full disclosure, I started the cleanse phase at 204 pounds. I decided not to be upset that I weighed 198 on Nov. 23. I have my measurements, too, and I compared them to my first cleanse. It’s funny that, because I’ve taken up running, my thigh and calf both measure bigger than they did in June when I weighed 212. But I do know there’s hardly any jiggle at all on my thigh, so I’d say that’s progress.

I had cross training on my running schedule today, so I decided to do a moderate walk on the treadmill. The weather has been too cold and snowy for me to meet up with Lauren and the baby, but maybe one day this week we’ll get it together. Tomorrow will be my longest workout yet. I’m kind of looking forward to it.

I had a job interview about a week and a half ago and I thought it went really well. Knowing myself and my capabilities, I knew I would shine in the position. But I just got an email from the recruiter saying they have “other more qualified candidates.” I really wanted to respond with, “Hm, I doubt that.” Ha! I tried to apply for a job on Monday, but the job board web site told me I’d applied for it Feb. 12. I felt a little bit discouraged because I hadn’t heard back from the employer at all. And then today I got an email about coming in for an interview on Friday! The woman said she was totally impressed with my skills, and sometimes you need to hear that.