Guest Post: Advocare {with} Avery & A Giveaway

Good Morning!  So, yesterday I was talking about how I'm trying to stay active and make smart choices as far as eating and cooking for my family.  I also mentioned that I drink Spark, an energy drink by Advocare, to help me cut back on coffee drinking in the afternoon.  

Today I have my friend Avery here to tell you about Advocare and two of the products that I use... and she's going to share some with a lucky reader, too!  


Keep reading...


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Hello SoChick fans,


My name is Avery Quinn and I'm here to share AdvoCare with yall! I'm just going to share a few of my favorite products, a few comments from happy customers and wrap up with a give away!
AdvoCare is a premier health and wellness company offering world-class energy, weight-loss, nutrition, and sports performance products along with a rewarding business opportunity.

I want to introduce you to a few great products AdvoCare has to offer for weight loss,keeping the weight off and working out!

{Photo by Laura Oldfather Photography}

Spark is a sugar free energy drink that is full of vitamins and minerals. It's available in many flavors, jitter free and no crash. My husband and I use this daily!

{Photography by www.leahsaree.com}

Next is Catalyst, this product is a must-have if you're trying to trim down, or keep fat away! Catalyst peels fat off of muscle while protecting your lean muscle mass. Also helps endurance during work outs! I take this daily (especially before a run!)

These are some staples for myself thanks to AdvoCare & some of the best sellers. Here's what some happy customers have to say:

"Spark Energy was the only thing that kept me going my first trimester of pregnancy. My husband was away and I had two toddlers to take care of, and all I wanted to do was sleep.. until I ordered me some spark, of course! "
-Laura

"The Carb stuff (CarbEase plus) I got really took away that "bloaty woman feeling". I always felt as if I was bloated and carrying around extra weight. .... Not anymore! " 
-Kristi

"Catalyst is a winner for me!! Helps boost energy and with my runs"
-Lydia

"Spark was the only thing that kept me non jittery yet awake during our cross country move from North Carolina to California, especially having to run our two large dogs at the hotels after driving 13 hours a day!"
-Lisa

& that's just a few! 

{Photography by www.leahsaree.com}

Thank you for letting me take a minute to share some great products with yall. There is something for everyone so feel free to contact me and we can find something that fits your needs!

Stay Healthy!
Avery Quinn
www.advocareimpact.us
www.facebook.com/advocareimpact


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Avery is a super sweet and inspiring gal, she recently did the Run For The Warriors Half Marathon and finished with an awesome time! Go girl!!

She is also very kindly giving away two packages of Spark Energy for a lucky reader to try!

Giveaway Details


Visit Avery's Site and leave a comment here telling me what product you'd most likely use.


Additional entries:
~"Like" AdvocareImpact on Facebook HERE
"Like" SoChick Handbags on Facebook HERE
Leave a comment for each.


Giveaway ends May 29 at 11:59pmEST;  I'll randomly draw a winner on May 30th.


Good luck and I hope you have a safe Memorial Day weekend!
XxOo~ Melissa

My Fitness Journal {Eating Healthy}

I'm sitting here hoping it doesn't rain this morning so that I can go for a run.  A few weeks ago I picked up a gently used jogging stroller (for a great deal... $40!) and I've really stepped up my game since then.  I log my runs with the Log Your Run App (free) on my iPhone and I'll tell ya, its SO much easier to run when I can take my littlest Chick with me.


I'm not gonna lie, getting used to pushing my three-and-a-half year old in a jogging stroller, after never having used one, is a workout in itself... but completely doable. Bonus is extra calories burned and she gets park time after two miles! 


This week I added some strength training exercises from SELF magazine and am feeling them after the first two sessions.


The most difficult part of upping my regular exercise is making sure I take in enough calories and make smart eating decisions. SELF does have some great recipes and plans on their site, though their recipes are geared for a single person... not a family of four; after I do the math, it gets expensive.  Luckily, my family eats pretty healthfully anyway; the biggest factor is making sure I get the extra calories I need and don't blow it by waiting so long to eat that I'm ravished.  I need to remember, Veggies, fruits, veggies, veggies... because I can eat endless amounts of those... right?


I'm doing my best to slow down on sugar, too... and coffee... GASP!  I know, it's crazy.  A big helper has been the Spark Energy Drink by Advocare.  It helps with the afternoon coffee craving by giving me energy without the overdose-caffeine jitters.  It has a ton of vitamins; some days it helps me through my morning workout, too.


Do you work out regularly?  What are some of your favorite healthy snacks or meals? I'd love for you to share links or recipes!  I'll let you know if I try them!


Hoping to get some sewing in today... wish me luck!


XxOo~ Melissa

Running For... [My New Year's Commitment]

I listed this New Year's Commitment on my Holiday Planning/To-Do List last week.  Now it's time for me to tell you all about it!  


I know what you're thinking... Whoa advance planning! But kind of, sort of, not really... here's the deal:


I've been so busy that I keep making excuses as to why I'm not working out regularly.  A few weeks ago I thought that I could really use some kind of motivation for working out, you know, since being healthy, fit, and in shape aren't motivators *wink*.  Then, one day after work, my hubs comes home and says:


  "Let's run a Marathon." {cricket, cricket}


Okay, hunny, let's not get carried away with ourselves... how 'bout a half-marathon?  Another week went by and I knew that if we really were going to run a half-marathon that we needed to plan and prepare.  It's easy to say you're going to do something, but with something as big as running a 13.1 mile race (though we wouldn't be racing) planning and prep is everything.


Enter: My New Year's Commitment


First thing I did was hit up Google for schedules of Half-Marathons in our area along with training plans.  I found the Flying Pirate Half Marathon which is April 15, 2012.  I figure that's enough time for us to prepare since most training plans are 12-14weeks and I'm starting early... right? Right.


I went out and bought new running sneaks

And, I downloaded this free iPhone app called LogYourRun:

This app is pretty awesome b/c it uses my phone's pedometer along with GPS to track my pace, time, and route; I can save my info and track my progress.  It also allows me to build a playlist, or select an existing one, within the app... way cool.  Then, I can tweet or facebook my info, so if you follow me on Twitter (which you should *wink* @TheSoChickChick) that's what those little updates are!


Of course just entering a race isn't enough motivation for me... so to up the ante and raise the stakes, I presented my husband with a challenge:


   When we  complete our first half-marathon (not win, since we are not racing, this is merely a personal challenge for us and we're first-timers) we will treat ourselves to a Viva Las Vegas weekend! 


I know you are loving my intentional puns in the previous sentence, right?!  This half-marathon may be a way to justify a trip to Vegas more than Vegas being the reward, but either way works for me!


I will update periodically with a blog post about our progress, but you can also track my progress via my Tweets!


I'm super excited about this challenge... what a great way to get fit together!


How do you set goals and reward yourself for fitness?  It doesn't have to be something as extreme as running a half-marathon, but I'd like to hear your thoughts.


Also, are you a runner with a toddler?  How do you manage fitting in a workout when your home with the little one during the day?  My youngest is 3 next week (Eeek!) and she is my biggest challenge as far as fitting in a run during the day... I'm dyin' to hear how other running Mom's do it!




XxOo~ Melissa


*P.S.- My opinions on the "Log Your Run" iPhone App are my own; I am not affiliated with them, I just really like the app!