It's SPARK-tastic!

Feeling slugish? Dragging? Unmotivated? Unfocused? Spark your day and get 3-5 hours of energy and mental focus. No juitters. Just a "can-do", "Let's move" attitude!

AdvoCare Spark® is a unique multi-nutrient system that was developed as a nutritional source of energy and enhanced mental focus.* It's a sugar-free with more than 20 vitamins, minerals and nutrients that work synergistically to provide a healthy, balanced and effective source of energy that won't overburden or over stimulate your body.* This amazing product serves as an all-in-one solution that gives you a quick boost of energy that lasts for hours.*

WHAT'S CHANGING?? Not the flavor!! Fewer calories and easier storage and travel packaging!!!

New on the go sticks: These take up SOOOO much less space and they are much easier to get into a water bottle without spilling! Let's face it, we've done it one-handed, in the car, while multi-tasking....now its just easier! They will be rolling these on-the-go sticks out in all flavors over the next few months. The flavors already changed include green apple, fruit punch, pink lemonade, and mango strawberry.


New Canisters

New smaller sizes canisters make them easier to store and to travel with, or through in your gym bag. They are rolling out in flavors little by little. Now available is green apple, pink lemonade and watermelon. This also has the new formula with the same flavor but less calories and carbs!

New Flavors

Green Apple is back! This tastes like a jolly rancher! I also was obsessed with it over the winter with hot water and a cinnamon stick in place of a warm cup of coffee. DELICIOUS! I've also mixed it with Key Lime Cherry Rehydrate!

What is spark?
Available in Watermelon, Mango Strawberry, Pink Lemonade, Mandarin Orange, Fruit Punch, Grape and Green Apple
Offered in boxes and canisters

• Sharpens mental focus* 
• Fast acting and long-lasting energy* 
• Contains over 20 vitamins, minerals and nutrients designed to synergistically provide a healthy, balanced source of energy*

GET YOUR SPARK TODAY!

Mixing recipes! A Spinach Artichoke Pasta Remix

  

As time has progressed and I've learned and practiced more with healthy eating, I've learned to branch out a little. And dare I say it, even try things without recipes! 
One of my FAVORITE things is spinach artichoke dip. The other used to be Alfredo. So I did my best to use all the tools at my disposal and the random things in my fridge to create a delicious combination of the two! Here's what I came up with. 

I threw 2 pieces of Tilapia in the oven at 400 for about 20 minutes.
I started cooking the pasta while all of this got started. While that was cooking I got things chopped up and in to a pan to cook trough the veggies and melt the cheese in.
Below are the ingredients I used but they could certainly vary for your taste.


1 box whole wheat pasta (your choice of style). Cook and set aside.

"Secret Sauce"
I chopped about a chunk of asparagus into small short pieces
1/2 of an orange and yellow bell pepper
4 artichoke hearts
1/2 box of frozen spinach thawed and water squeezed out
Almond Milk
1/2 small ricotta cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
Salt, Pepper and Crushed Red Pepper flakes to taste

Cook on medium heat until the veggies are cooked. Then add in the cheese and blend.

This was a DELICIOUS meal!

Get summer ready with the Pool Prep Challenge!

It's FINALLY here....well almost. For anyone with kids I'm sure you are slammed with track and field, program, recitals etc. and before you know it, it will be memorial day before you know it and then it's pool days and cabin trips! 

Are you comfortable and ready for swimsuit season? 

Gearing up for the 5k's all summer? 

Need an "oil change" for your body?

Now is the PERFECT time to get ready for all those summer activities and events by getting your body into prime physical and operating shape. The 24 day challenge offers solutions for weight loss and muscle toning all in one program and better yet, comes with a coach to help. For less than $8 a day, you get amazing products, personal coaching, a program to follow AND part of your daily regimens alleviate the need for purchasing one meal/day (max phase) and 1 energy drink. That's an $8 savings right there!

GROUP CHALLENGE STARTS MAY 26th | ORDER BY MAY 18th

I'm looking for people who are ready to make a change, and are ready to get results!
I myself have seen amazing things come from this program and have seen the smiles and joys of others who achieved their goals through this program as well. I'm here to help you!
I am hosting a group challenge that you can join with your spouse, friends, family or co-workers and receive all the support and amazing products you need. As a trainer and clean eating enthusiast, it's my passion to provide additional (and free) coaching and guidance in terms of workouts and recipes. 

WHAT'S YOUR GOAL?? STRENGTH | WEIGHT LOSS | ENERGY?
We have solutions for every goal and options for every budget.

When you start your challenge by May 26th you will be done by the "official" start of summer on June 21st. I understand that everyone has questions, specific goals and therefore we can tailor a solution specific to your goals and budget! Purchase by May 17th to have your products in time to start. Contact me today to find out more!

bethblanchard79@gmail.com | www.advocare.com/120221986/24DayChallenge/

LEARN MORE & PURCHASE YOUR PRODUCTS AT 1 OF 2 MIXERS or contact me to set up a time to discuss your program 1 on 1.

MAY 12TH AT 6:45PM

MAY 17TH AT 2:00PM

Heading outdoors for a sweat session!

This is my FAVORITE time of year. It's not too hot or too cold, it's just right! Many think they have to have a gym membership, a trainer or access to group fitness. But the truth is you can head out your own backyard! (or in our case the back parking lot at work)

We took to the pavement, curb and grass at work to get in a good sweat session during lunch break. The breakdown of this workout is 45 seconds of exercise, 15 seconds of rest. 

The first time through everything is on the right (if the exercise has a "side"), the second on the left.  Take a water break in between rounds. Start with 2 rounds working your way to 4.

The key is doing what you can, if you can't go the whole 45 seconds work on what you can and a little longer and quicker each time. Stay consistent and focused on form. This is meant as a guide and can be modified to your level!

GO GET 'EM!

Up & Down the Pavement
Frog Jumps - Squat all the way down, hands touching the ground, spring up.
Low Lateral Shuffle - Stay low, shuffle to the side
High Knees - Run, bringing your knees as high to your chest as you can
Butt Kick Run - Lean forward slightly, keep your knees towards the ground and run pulling your foot to your butt
Walking Lunges - Deep lunges forward, arms up if you can
Side lunge/Curtsy Lunge - Step to the side leaning all your weight onto one leg (right the first time), followed by a step behind "curtsy" with the opposite leg. Return to start.
Skaters - Jump/step out to the side, touch back, repeat on other side

Curb it

Push Ups - Feet on the ground, hands on the curb. Widen your feet for a lighter level
Jump ons  - Feet together, jump on to the curb and back off. For more of a challenge increase the speed
Tricep Dips - Hand facing your bottom, propped up on the curb, lower bending elbows into an "L" and return
Step Lateral with straight side leg lift - Bent leg on curb, straight leg on pavement, lower the bent leg until the opposing leg touches the ground, straight the "curb" side leg, and raise the opposing leg out to the side

Scissor Jumps - Alternating feet jump at the same time, switching legs each time landing, one leg bent on the curb and the other on the pavement (shown in picture)

Warrior Workout - Pyramid Style

You can always make time for a workout. Whether you have 15 minutes or 50 minutes follow a cycle that allows you to modify that amount of time you have to invest while maximizing your efforts and utilizing multiple muscles groups. This pyramid style workout is tough but effective. The workout in its entirety ranges 45-60 minutes depending no your speed. If you start at the top and only get through half (which is the hardest part), don't forget to celebrate that win!

This workout doesn't require the need for any equipment which means you can do it at home, in a hotel, basement, living or even outside! Follow these 4 moves, one after another. You will being with 20 repetitions of each exercise. Once you complete 20 of each of the 4 exercises, you will have completed one round. You will continue through a full round of each, reducing the reps by one each time. The second round will consist of 19 reps of each, then 18 reps of each and so on, all the way down to 1 rep of each.

For all exercises except the burpees, the exercise is performed one on each side. ie. a left and right side counts as one rep.

REMEMBER: You are doing the hardest and longest first. It goes by faster towards the end.

Burpees with push up

Squat with knee lift (one on each side counts as one)

Mountain Climbers

Alternating Lunges

The "Muscle weighs more than fat" Debate

We've all heard it. We've all probably said it. But have we believed it?

The truth of the matter is that muscle WEIGHS the same, but takes up a lot less room! So even when people have more muscle, it doesn't mean they are larger in size. So why do the weight-watching women of the world preach the misinformed belief that lean muscle weighs more than fat? I find most individuals use this erroneous rationale to soften the blow of the scale. When the numbers on the scale begin to tip in an unfavorable direction, it is easy to find comfort in the theory that muscle weighs more than fat—especially if you are resistance training.

While fat and lean muscle weighs the same pound for pound, their composition varies immensely. Muscle has a leaner appearance due to its high density, whereas free-floating, Jello-like, fatty tissue needs more space to jiggle around, due to its low volume. Hence, someone with a high body-fat percentage will look overweight in comparison to an individual with a high lean tissue percentage.
Recently, I did the Lean in 13 Challenge from AdvoCare (pictured above) which includes a strict nutrition regimen following a carb cycling methodology but some of the key lean muscle building products like Catalyst and Muscle Gain. Now I've always loved catalyst but Muscle Gain was for sure new and I thought what EVERY girl has. "Bulk". Even though I know better. While it was challenging to eat at those intervals and eating what I had to when it proved to be successful in tightening things up. I focused on doing strength training at least twice a week specifically and incorporating it into my other workouts. What happened was essentially NO decrease in weight (1 pound could have been water or timing or what I wore) but I lost 7 inches!!! Now that is a testament to what inches mean in terms of weight.

JUST REMEMBER, weight isn't the only measurement of a successful fitness or nutrition program. Besides energy, endurance and strength that you feel, the other PHYSICAL measurement is through inches or body fat. They are ALL positives and all part of the journey. Be inspired by the story below. I was!

"Throw out the scale! Left I was taking harmful fat burners that sent me to the ER that's now off the market, barely eating, cardio bunny, and running 5-10 miles a day. Full of self-loathing just to keep that number on the scale in the 120s. I was miserable! Binge then restrict. Cry on the elliptical because the scale went up 1#. Then right is today! Sure I will lean out more, however I can lift like a champ. Run 4 miles on any given day. Perform and fuel my body, feel amazing, happy, energetic. Travel, have foods I want to eat and eat more than ever! I use to hate the scale. Now I don't bother to be honest. Left size 4, right size 6. Count inches, not pounds. Leaner, stronger, more powerful. Thanks AdvoCare. This is still the beginning. Wait 3 months from now!"

Grilled ginger chicken & orange sesame asaparagus

This past weekend we celebrated Easter early and because of dietary restrictions I changed from pork to chicken and made this DELICIOUS meal from the Cooking Light magazine. You will not be dissapointed!

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Orange-Sesame Asparagus and Rice

Yield: Serves 4 (serving size: about 2 ounces pork, about 3/4 cup asparagus, and 1/2 cup rice)

Ingredients

2 (1-pound) pork tenderloins, trimmed (changed to chicken)
2 tablespoons canola oil (used olive oil)
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon brown sugar
5 teaspoons lower-sodium soy sauce, divided
2 teaspoons fish sauce (substituted with Worcestershire sauce)
1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger
Cooking spray
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 pounds asparagus, trimmed
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
4 teaspoons dark sesame oil, divided
2 teaspoons honey
Dash of crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
2 cups hot cooked brown rice
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (top before serving if desired)

Preparation

1. Cut each tenderloin crosswise into 12 even slices. Gently pound each slice to 1/2-inch thickness with a meat mallet or small heavy skillet. Combine canola oil, syrup, sugar, 2 teaspoons soy sauce, fish sauce, and ginger in a large zip-top plastic bag. Add pork to bag; seal. Refrigerate 30 minutes.

2. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle pork evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt and black pepper. Add 8 pork slices to pan; grill 90 seconds on each side. Remove pork from pan. Repeat procedure twice with remaining pork. Reserve 16 pork slices.

3. Return pan to medium-high heat. Coat asparagus with cooking spray. Add half of asparagus to pan; grill 3 minutes or until crisp-tender, turning occasionally. Place asparagus in a bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining asparagus. Combine remaining 1 tablespoon soy sauce, orange juice, 2 teaspoons sesame oil, honey, and crushed red pepper in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at HIGH 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Add juice mixture, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and rind to asparagus; toss. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

4. Combine remaining 2 teaspoons sesame oil, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, rice, green onions, in a medium bowl. Serve with remaining 8 pork slices and asparagus mixture.

Nutritional Information

Amount per serving (NOTE: this varies if you substitute chicken)
Calories: 445
Fat: 15.2g
Saturated fat: 2.4g
Monounsaturated fat: 6.8g
Polyunsaturated fat: 5g
Protein: 26g
Carbohydrate: 53g
Fiber: 8g
Cholesterol: 49mg
Iron: 6mg
Sodium: 620mg
Calcium: 90mg