I'll try anything once

I'll pretty much try anything once, whether it's food, a style trend, or in this case, a healthy habit. I've seen people post about various tricks and thought to myself "hey, I could do that." Well, that thought turned into action last night as I was wandering through the organic foods aisles of my neighborhood Kroger. Partially because they were fresh on my mind, and partially because I was just plain curious (and the aloe water was on sale) I tried two of my "what ifs."

Aloe Gloe:
After seeing this instagram from the oh, so lovely Hilary Duff I was nearly obsessed and searched high and low for the ingredients for this healthy skin shot (since her skin is near flawless as seen here and here). But, like most things do, once out of sight it was out of mind. Until I stumbled upon this variation yesterday. They were 2 for 1 and I thought what the heck/what could it hurt. It can't be any worse than the coconut water everyone raves about (yep, tried that too, many moons ago. It was grotesque). 

I tried the white grape flavor last night, and to my surprise it was actually good. Really good. And obviously it's too soon to tell if it gave me glowy skin yet (fingers crossed), but hey the placebos don't hurt.

PB2
I've seen this stuff everywhere, and honestly was mildly freaked out that peanut butter can even ever be a powder. But, in an attempt to get healthy, I bought the chocolate kind (I doubt anything with chocolate in it will be bad) for my afternoon snack with carrots (don't judge... I found I liked the combo wile on le cleanse).

Any other goodies I should try? I'm game!

Tone It Up Tuesday

It's not exactly a secret that I have been attempting a healthier lifestyle (even before the new year when it seems like everyone is). But sometimes (okay...often) I need a little extra motivation to get out of my cozy, plush bed and brave the arctic temps to warm up my car and head to the gym to get my fitness on. 

I honestly find motivation in the strangest yet simplest places, and wanted to share a few with y'all (in case you're a mere mortal like me, and healthy/fit life is a constant battle of not eating the cinnamon chips or pack of starburst but still wanting that adorable bathing suit that's on sale).

The Bella Twins:
I admit it, I fully enjoy Total Divas, and not only to I watch it faithfully... I use their instagrams (Nikki's here and Brie's here) to keep me motivated. See here, here, here, here, or here for motivational images of them to inspire you. It's easier to do 5 more minutes on the stair master when you know Nikki is essentially squatting with the weight on a semi-truck on her back. At least for me anyway...

The Tone It Up/Toned Up girls:
Special thanks to Merebear for telling me about them b/c now that Total Divas is on hiatus, I need some female fitness motivation (not the scary kind that is what I tend to think weight training does/not at all what I want my end result to be [for example: this terrifying image]). Katrina and Karena have a successful web-series turned Bravo tv show where they help normal average ladies feel good about themselves and set fitness goals -- all while being fabulously quirky much like Mere and me (as in they text each other from the same apartment to tell each other night when they already said it 5 seconds ago anyway... guilty as charged). Their instas are full on motivation (examples here, here, here, and here) to eat a spinach salad instead of the above mentioned bag of starbursts (again, guilty as charged).

So, with the help of these motivators, I'm finding it a little easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle instead of chasing a number on a scale or feeling bad about a glass of wine after work.

Any other fitness role models y'all have out there?? I'm always looking for others.

O.V.E.R.

Day 24. It's over. For the past 23 days (as my birthday present to myself), I've been on the Advocare 24 Day Challenge Cleanse, and I must say, I was pleased with the results (and with my first sip of pumpkin spice coffee this morning now that it's over). Here are some things I learned the last 3 weeks.

Results: lost 10 pounds (technically 9.8) and 12 (technically 12.25) inches total. Not too shabby for 23 days (and falling off the wagon for Ben and Emily's gender reveal). JT (ever the competitive couple we are) also measured before and hit the gym for 23 days (I politely told him if he lost more than me I'd punch him in the face, mainly becasue he still ate carbs... without me). He (was extremely supportive.. even through my hanger [hungry + angry]  phases) lost over 7 inches and 6 pounds. Cheers to healthy habits.

What I missed the most:
-coffee (with cream)
-pimento cheese BLT sanwiches
-fried everything
-homemade ranch
-wine

What I learned to love:
-green tea (both hot and cold)
-baby carrots
-spinach (salads, sauteed, you name it)
-steamed sweet potatoes
-bunless turkey burgers
-their meal replacement shakes (chocolate mocha)
-egg whites
-real (not instant) oatmeal

The worst part of the 24 days?
-the fiber drink on the first half of the cleanse, by far the worst thing. I had to imagine someone i loved would be killed if I didn't finish it; that was the only way to force it down (without vomming).

Best thing?
-the results. 23 days and down 10 pounds? I'll take it.

What I'm walking away with:
-an ATC gym membership
-an appreciation for clean eating (hello glowy skin and svelte/non-bloated feeling)
-knowledge of how to cook healthy meals (sans salt, sauces, and other cooking traps)
-happy feeling going into the holiday eating season
-realization that every meal doesn't have to feel like Thanksgiving feast to survive.
-getting up and working out (as bad as it is) makes your whole day better
-painfully aware of how many veggies I didn't eat per day before this

My must haves for those considering it:
-break out the Bubba Keg from college, and fill it with (not beer) water. Slice a lemon in half and squeeze it in. Drink one full Bubba Keg's worth of lemon water before lunch, and one after. You'll pee like crazy, but it helps you survive (and get in the necessary amount of water required by the cleanse).
-spinach leaves. Keep them with you at all times. Since you can have an unlimited amount of green veggies at any time, they're clutch to stave off hunger.
-natural peanut butter.
-magic bullet. It's the easiest, fastest, and all around best way to blend anything. 

Juice Plus

It's no secret that I've been bitten by the juicing craze, but I've never been brave enough to actually take the plunge and try one. I was thinking about it today, and then it hit me like a ton of bricks-- I already do juice... plus.

Juice Plus+ has been a Cox family habit since I was in high school, and my mom even sells the stuff. It's full of fruits, veggies, and nutrients to make it oh-so-easy to meet your daily goals of good stuff. It's helped my allergies and my track record with illnesses like colds and flu, not to mention the whole digestive aspect.

But don't take my word for it, click here for expert reviews, published scientific journals, and testimonials about whole food nutrition.

It even comes in gummy-form in case you have a rough time with the capsules.

Fun facts: 
-it's made in the good ole U.S. of A.
-Juice Plus+ has other products besides the vitamins
-My mom has gotten other people in our family and her friends to start taking it and they now swear by it, too.
-I've actually been at events where people walk up to my mom and ask for it because they've 1) heard of the benefits 2) know she uses it and sells it or 3) just found our they're preggers (yes, it has amazing benefits for all but especially helpful to keep lil bambinos healthy in the womb).

And if all this doesn't convince you... what could it hurt?

Think about it: 

since when is eating more 

fruits and veggies a bad thing?