A Very Happy Day

It's Black Friday, and the only shopping I'd planned on doing is online.

I have a list of things I want to get done today. So I need to start early with my Spark, Max Energy and a Meal Replacement Shake.

My Little Sidekick has a playdate this afternoon. I'll be on my own once I drop her off. I had fully intended to come straight home to finish my list - and pick up, do laundry, clean the house. But as I was driving past the Mall ...

There was absolutely no parking space at the Mall. But I went across to Michaels to pick up a few things. And my girlfriend had called earlier to let me know that Talbot's was having a BIG sale. So I stopped in there to see what I could find.

Now, I really like Talbot's, especially when they have a sale, but it's tough to find something that looks right on me. Their clothes just are not made for women built like me. I'm kinda long waisted and a little more curvey. And I wasn't really ready for shopping - ponytail, no make up, sneakers. But I do have a Snack Bar & a Jingle Slam. Recharge. I am determined to find everyday wear from someplace other than Academy.

So I pick a few things off the rack - hmm, too big. Next size - still kinda loose. I am down 2 dress sizes?!

I'm really suprised and this is rather significant, because I have not lost alot of weight. I haven't been dieting or exercising like a fiend either. Of course I pay attention to what I eat, and I stay active but it's nothing special.

I believe that being able to trim down is because I've continued with my daily habits that I learned during Commit2Fit. The most important of those habits has been eating 5 small 200 - 300 calorie meals across the day, each including at least 20 grams of protein. The Meal Replacement Shakes for breakfast and an afternoon snack of Vanilla Muscle Gain and Peaches & Cream fiber drink really have been helpful. Of course CorePlex and Probiotic Restore in my MNS are fundamental. But all that protein really has kept my muscles strong and upped my metabolism while the Catalyst has helped me keep the muscle while I burn fat. I'm sure that's why I have lost dress sizes but not really lost weight.

Hey, I don't care what the scale says, 'cuz I am walking out of a clothing store lookin' good in something other than sweatpants.

Of course we all know the products work, you just need to figure out what combination works best for you. Bonus, the money that I make wth the Advocare opportunity is the reason I am able to spend 3 hours shopping in the middle of a weekday afternoon.

Today is a very happy day.

I cook like Granma Hanson

You know, a little of this a pinch of that. Granma never used a recipe. Or at least that's what we all thought.

When we went through her things after she passed, we found all the papers and clippngs with lists of ingredients and directions. I think those recipes were just guidelines, then she'd ad lib a bit to make it her own.

I usually start with a recipe, then I get an idea to change it up a bit. It turns out OK, tasty and all, but then I can never get it to taste the same way twice.

This morning I decided to have my Spark and fix pancakes for breakfast. I also needed to make a dish for my favorite Newsman to take to his potluck at work. This all could have been very simple - but nothing is simple in my world.

I wanted to be festive and healthy. I fixed up hot apple cider orange Spark, protein pancakes with Berry Meal Replacement Shake, and low carb smashed sweet potatoes with butternut squash. Still pretty easy. Until I started to change stuff.

I'll share the recipes that I started with, but then I added a little more of this and a pinch of that, plus some of those over there.

Hot Apple Orange Spark
Heat 1/2 cup apple cider and 3/4 cup water, mix in 1 scoop mandarin orange Spark

Berry Pancakes - a tasty low fat way to sneak in extra protein, calcium and fiber as well as vitamins and minerals. I make a bunch of these to reheat later.
mix 1 1/2 - 2 cups water with Berry Meal Replacement Shake, use this to replace the milk to add to any quick pancake mix. I used a gluten free mix. You may want to adjust more or less liquid depending on how thick you want your pancakes. Try with spray butter and sugar free fruit spread instead of syrup. But really they're tasty as is. They make great travel snacks for the car.

Smashed Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash
This is a low carb low calorie version of candied yams with marshmallows. A variation on this mashed potato recipe.
1 medium butternut squash (2 pounds), halved lengthwise and seeded
1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and quartered
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup hot milk
1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
1/2 teaspoon salt
Pinch of cayenne

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a jelly-roll pan with foil. Place the squash halves cut sides down on the foil. Bake 1 hour, or until tender. Turn the squash over and let cool.
2. Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and add enough cold water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover, and cook 15 to 20 minutes, or until tender. Drain the potatoes.
3. In a small skillet, melt the butter over low heat. Cook until browned, about 2 minutes, and set aside.
4. Return the hot potatoes to the pan. Mash with a potato masher until smooth. Add the milk and mash until blended. With a spoon, scoop the squash into the potatoes. Add half of the browned butter, the orange zest, salt, and cayenne. Mash until blended. Reheat over low heat, stirring constantly, until hot. Turn into a serving dish and make indentations with the back of a spoon. Drizzle the remaining butter over the top.

I couldn't help myself, I added a bit more cayenne, and some brown sugar (not so low carb anymore!)

And be sure to mix it all with your hands, makes it taste better - just like Granma's!

Rock & Roll Reader

Recently, I put up a post about Advocare Endorser Vince Vance. Since then, this site has been getting alot of hits from folks Googling Vince Vance & the Valiants. So I decided to take a closer look at some of the other sites that Google was bringing up. I discovered that recently they have had a 35th Reunion concert in Dallas, have been to Paris (Paris, Texas), performed at the Empty Stocking Benefit, and Vince Vance has written a children's book.

Rock & Roll Reader has gotten great reviews. I am sure my Little Reader would enjoy it. I definitely will put it on The List.

Wouldn't it be fun to have Vince Vance & the Valiants perform at Success School?

Advocare Endorser Phil Dawson lifts Cleveland over Buffalo

Greetings Team AdvoCare!



One could argue that AdvoCare endorser Phil Dawson completed a triple play last night! No it's not baseball, but Phil accomplished three great feats last night in Cleveland's 29-27 win at Buffalo ... (read more)

This is what happens when I'm not around

This past weekend I was pretty busy with Advocare business. I set up at a table at a couple of Holiday Market events.


In Kountze for Christmas at Stone Creek Lodge, Friday and Saturday.

Then Sunday for Groves Christmas Tree Trail at Memorable Moments at Maggie's off Hwy 73.


Mostly Moms with hobbies, showing and selling what they have made. I always am amazed at the creativity and diversity. Great Christmas gifts. Also a Travel Agent, Cosmetics Consultant, Food Items, an Author and Me.

And it's interesting that most of these Women are not just selling their arts & crafts for the fun of it. Some of them have other full time jobs as well.

We all take it seriously. This is a real business that supplements the Household income. But the cool thing is it's OUR business. We can make our own rules.

For example, I'm able to bring my Little Associate along with me. She likes being a part of the "Spark Team". Friday she came along and helped me set up, mingled some with other Vendors and their kids, then camped out under a table with her DVD player and some dolls.

Saturday and Sunday while I was out, my Helper stayed home with her Dad. She mentioned that they were going to get a gas card and see a movie, which I later figured out meant they were going to see "Madagascar the Movie".

And it appears that they also found time to be Rock Stars.

Hmm - last week she was a Fairy Princess Mermaid with a pet Unicorn.

Vince Vance and the Valiants

And speaking of great Chrismas songs, I see that Vince Vance of Vince Vance and the Valiants is the latest of Advocare's non paid Endorsers.

What? You don't know about Vince Vance and the Valiants?

Well check this out:



Have you seen this guy? He is totally high energy, and he's no spring chicken. Don't get me wrong, it is what it is, but he looks great and he still is touring and performing live. And that's a tough gig.

I had the good fortune to meet Vince Vance and his Valiants when they helped out with a benefit Lock Up for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Rockwall just east of Dallas. Wow, that was in 1995 ... We had such a great time.

Nevermind the hair and crazy get up - it's show business, man - he is a genuinely nice guy. I'm excited that he's part of the Advocare team.

Just for fun, here's another one:

A Busy Weekend

The Holiday Season is upon us.

Look for me with Advocare in Kountze for Christmas at Stone Creek Lodge, Friday and Saturday.

Then Sunday for Groves Christmas Tree Trail at Memorable Moments at Maggie's off Hwy 73.

We'll be listening to my new CD of Christmas songs by Michael W Smith that I got for FREE with my 2 boxes of Jingle Slam.

This is how Great Fibo Trim is

FiboTrim and CarbEase are what I call my "911 products" - take 'em when you have a diet emergency. This time of year, I carry them in my purse. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I appreciate a Holiday Buffet.

FiboTrim has insoluble fiber and chitosan and other ingredients that will help curb your appetite by giving you a slight feeling of fullness and it's a fat grabber. When you've over indulged on your favorite fatty foods, FiboTrim will grab some of that fat and pull it right on through before it gets absorbed into your system and moves on over to your thighs or belly.

Now don't confuse FiboTrim with other products that are fat blockers. You won't have to worry about bringing along an extra pair of pants in case you sneeze & poo at the same time. I know that may sound gross, but Alli actually lists that in the treatment effects.

This time of year, when we have lots of Holiday parties, is a good time to pack along FiboTrim and CarbEase. CarbEase is a carb blocker. Each capsule actually blocks 3 grams of carbohydrates. Dr Harry Preuss, a member of the Advocare Sci/Med Board, has written a fantastic article explaining how this all works.

Now, some secondary benefits of each of these products. These have not been proven by any scientfic study and as always we have our disclaimer, but here is what I have found from personal experience. FiboTrim together with OmegaPlex contribute to reducing cholesterol. Type 2 diabetics have experienced good results with CarbEase.

I actually have genetically high cholesterol. It runs in my family. One day I was talking to my
Dad about supplements and Advocare in particular, and he said, "I'm already taking so many pills, my liver is about to explode". Well Dad, let's try something new. So, just to show him a thing or two, I started on a regimin of 6 to 9 OmegaPlex throughout the day and 6 FiboTrim at night before bed. I know that may sound like alot, but I was still nursing at the time and was considering getting pregnant again, so I could not take Lipitor or Zocor or any of the other prescription cholesterol lowering drugs.

I didn't really change up much else in my diet or exercise routine. I did take a blood test when I started this little experimant and again 6 mos later. I dropped my cholesterol 40 points!

Again, this was not a scientific study, but it is what happened to me. The added benefit was that I really trimmed up my waistline.

CarbEase - well consider that it is a carb blocker. Just imagine how that can affect your daily blood sugar levels. Now combine CarbEase with Max Appetite Control, which contains ingredients that regulate your blood sugar levels to help control your appetite. A person who checks their blood sugar daily definitely will notice a difference.

Get a head start on your New Year's Resolution and try it for yourself. This month you can buy 3 FiboTrim and get another bottle FREE.

And remember - it all comes with a money back guarantee.

Learning to Listen

Probably the #1 area where we fall short in Advocare is Listening.

Here's an opportunity to be taught by the Best - Rick Loy. Rick's Webinar/Teaching on Listening is one of the most sought after trainings out there. Register for this webinar to be held on Wednesday 11/5 at 8:30P CST

Thanks to Michelle & Real Andrews for this generous invitation.