Eating Right Equals Feeling Great AND Losing Weight

​Here is proof that eating well doesn’t have to be painful or difficult. In mid-January of this year, I paid a visit to my massage therapist, Denise Kennedy. I love getting massages from Denise – she is pretty darn good at what she does! At this visit, she seemed much more chipper and happier than usual. I asked her how her holidays had been and how she was doing. She proceeded to tell me that she was feeling absolutely great because of this diet that she had started after the first of the year called AdvoCare. “AdvoCare is a program that teaches you portion control, how to eat less but more often and makes you pay attention to what you're putting into your body”, Denise explains.  “A huge part of that is eating organic and staying away from preservatives and packaged food.”  She considered the program upon the advice of her sister who had been on it herself.

Denise gave it a try, and had already dropped about five pounds a week or two into the program – she  was cooking and eating her own meals, and felt fabulous. In subsequent conversations with her, she reported that she continued to feel great (and it was obvious in her demeanor), was enjoying the cooking aspect, wasn’t having any cravings, and had lost more weight. By the end of the 24 Day Challenge that is the jump-start component of the program, Denise had lost about 11 pounds and continued to lose weight, dropping another five pounds in the week after finishing the program.

She looks great and says she feels fantastic. Two weeks ago, she told me that she has lost a total of 21 pounds! Denise also said that she didn’t feel as tired and sore during and after massages –  that her stamina had improved. And in just this short period of time, her body had developed a sense of what food was good for it and what was not, as her first “celebratory meal” ended up not feeling as good in her system as the food that she had been eating on the program. Denise says that her favorite part of this entire experience is “ getting me back… and I've only just begun.”

So I asked her if I could interview her and share her success with others… to let other people know that it is possible to lose weight and feel great by adjusting what you eat. She agreed, and I have written this article to do just that.  

Now, The point of this story is not to endorse AdvoCare, or to do an advertisement for it, but to illustrate Denise’s success and the power of a balanced and nutritious diet of whole foods.   AdvoCare’s program does include supplementation along with its diet plan, and it is likely that these supplements added to Denise’s success with the program. But she gained so much more from just learning to eat well.
 
LM: What made you feel that you needed a program like AdvoCare? What or who led you to decide to do this?
D: Genetics first and foremost. I lost my mom at 46. She had a heart attack. My father is diabetic.  As I approach my 40s, I've really been looking at my health and it's not good.  My sister told me about this program she was on and she loved how she felt and wanted the same for me. With some coaxing, I did it. I'm so glad I did. I feel amazing!!

LM: What were your goals or desired outcomes for following the program? What did you initially want to get from it?
D: My goal was not just to lose weight and increase my energy but to make a lifestyle change - one that would keep me healthy so I can enjoy my life not sitting on my butt and watch it pass me by.

LM: How were you feeling both physically and mentally before you started the program? Did you have any doubts about whether or not it would work, or that you would be able to stay with it?
D: I was tired of being tired. Tired of feeling bloated and uncomfortable. I used to have this energy and positivity that I no longer had. It's one of the reasons Mariah encouraged me to make some changes.  I wanted to feel like myself again.

I doubted myself, not the program. I saw it working with my sister and knew if it didn't work with me, it was because I failed - that I didn't want to change badly enough.

LM: What was the most difficult part of starting the program? 
D: The hardest part was just starting the program. I did put it off for a while but once I started it, I didn't want to stop.

LM: What was the easiest part? And did you experience any significant challenges during the program?
D: Easiest: Meal prepping. Everything is ready. I'd cook once every three days. Come home...heat it up and serve.

Challenges were remembering the supplements. I'd forget but the more into the program I got...it became second nature. So nothing significant.

LM: Did you experience any cravings, and if so, when did they come on and how did you manage them? Did you have any “cheat days” where you ate something you weren’t supposed to eat, and how did you feel physically after doing that?
D: I really thought it was going to be hard to cut out chocolate, but it wasn't. I didn't and still don't crave it like I used to. Funny thing I found out- I craved all the good food I was putting into my body. I couldn't wait to have my apples with peanut butter, or my cashews with dried cranberries. Couldn't wait to get home to make my turkey taco boats!! So the cravings were very manageable.

No cheat days, but after the initial 24 day challenge is over you get to have a celebratory meal. Chicken. Fried. Steak. It was so delicious but I didn't like how I felt after. I felt...gross and heavy. Nothing I ate in those first 24 days made me feel that way.

LM: Were you very strict with yourself on the program, following it exactly as it was laid out? Or did you modify the program at all?
D: I followed it almost to the 'T' but I did have a cocktail now and again. You're not supposed to have any alcohol for the first 24 days but I'd have a vodka/soda water with lemon once a week.

LM: At what point in the program did you start to feel better – where you knew that the nutritional program was making a difference in how you felt? Did you feel both physically and mentally healthier?  How do you feel now?
D: Within the first 5 days I noticed I had more energy. Mornings were no longer my enemy! The bloated feeling was all but gone. I felt more focused. I had a little pep in my step and a smile on my face. I feel absolutely amazing!!

LM: What are the top three health benefits that you have received from participating in the AdvoCare program? What was your favorite part about the program?

1. I've lost 21lbs!! Taking that small amount of weight off has made my back and feet feel better instead of hurting all the time. I have arthritis and disc degeneration in my lumbar spine and plantar fasciitis.
2. My overall mood...I'm happy. I haven't felt like this in a long time.
3. The increased energy. I'm out and about doing my thing again.

LM: How long have you been on the program, and how long do you think you will continue on with it?
D: I started the program right after the first of the year. The knowledge I have gained by doing this will stay with me always. I will continue to put healthy, organic food into my body. I'm addicted to how I feel...it's such a huge change in such a short amount of time that I would be an imbecile to go back to where I was.

LM: What would be your advice to anyone who has the same health goals as you and who may want to embark upon a nutritional program/plan like AdvoCare?
D: Do your research. Find a program that works for you. Advocare happens to fit for me and my life. I'm excited about my future...I haven't felt that way in a while. I was disenchanted with life. If that's something you identify with, then stop making excuses like I did and start making some better choices. Once you make these changes, I promise you, you will feel amazing!! If you fall off, dust yourself off and get back to it.
 
Thank you, Denise, for sharing your experiences and success on the AdvoCare program!

This article is for educational purposes only. It is not an endorsement of AdvoCare. You can check out the AdvoCare program here.

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