Knowledge is Power

In 2011 I watched "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead".

If you don't know what that is, watch it. It's so good.

No really, it is. I makes you realize just how bad off we ALL are.

Then, my mom and I decided to juice. 

We had juices for breakfast and lunch and would eat a vegetarian dinner. 

Did we lose weight?

HECK YES.

I lost 15 pounds in 20 days.

I looked awesome.

I felt awesome.

I didn't feel hungry.

I had a little more energy--but nothing crazy.

I did love the weight loss I was experiencing.

Until I gained it all back. Very quickly.

I still juice! I think they are yummy and a great snack.

 I just don't use it as my primary method of weight loss. 

Why?

Well, for one--I learned zero about nutrition when I was juicing.

I wasn't learning what my body needed.

Yes, I was getting a lot of the vitamins and nutrients from the fruits and vegetables I was drinking.

Yes, I wouldn't have normally consumed the amount of fruits and vegetables if I wasn't juicing.

Yes, I was seeing an increase in energy.

Yes, I did see some of my stomach issues dissipate. 

BUT:

Once I started eating solid foods regularly again--what I thought was healthy, wasn't.

I went from eating 200% of my daily portion of fruits and vegetables to eating 75% or less.

I saw a rapid loss in energy--either no energy or crashes throughout the day.

My stomach issues returned as soon as I started eating gluten and dairy again.

I had no actual understanding of nutrition.

All I knew was that I wasn't going to juice or be a vegetarian for the rest of my life.

So, I gained weight back PLUS some.

Then, I found AdvoCare.

I have this incredible understanding of my body and what I put in it now.

I know what it needs to get through the day.

I know that when I don't feel well it's because of what I've put in it. 

I now know to eat a clean and balanced diet.

Do I still love chocolate and wine? Yes.

Do I still indulge? Yes.

If I eat a clean diet 90% of the year--I can have those Reese's eggs and Cloudline Pinot Noir the other 10%. ;) 

I don't have to worry about gaining back the 25+ pounds I've lost.

Because I have an appreciation for my body.

I don't put bad things into it anymore.

I feel better, I look better and I know better now than I did before.