The Real Reason

 As I write this, my husband and I are at the end of Day 13 of 24 on the Advocare 24 Day Challenge.   We are working on improving some habits that aren't as healthy as they should be.  We have also refocused our workout routines.  I feel better.  I have more energy and I have lost over 8 pounds so far.  Losing pounds and  inches while gaining muscles is really motivating but that isn't the real reason I love Advocare products.  I am passionate about Advocare because of a promise I made and I am doing everything I can to keep that promise. Before I get to that promise, I need to explain a couple of things.

First, my family health history is like living in a genetic minefield.   A quick overview (not in any particular order) includes heart disease, arthritis, neurological issues,  high blood pressure, high cholesterol, thyroid issues, horrendous osteoporosis, kidney disease, cancer, diabetes, vitamin deficiencies.

Second, my mom was an amazing grandma.  She absolutely adored her seven grandchildren.  I firmly believe that this world would be a completely different place if every child was loved and believed in as much as my kids, nieces and nephew were loved by their grandma.  Each of them knew they were special and cherished by her. Regardless of what they were doing, she was their biggest cheerleader.  Unfortunately, she had a permanently broken arm and a multitude of other health issues that truly inhibited how much she could do with her grandchildren.  So for most of their lives, Grandma was on the sidelines, not actually playing with them.  After decades of suffering with unimaginable pain and various ailments, her body gave out at 78 years old.

This where the promise comes in. My youngest son couldn't even remember a time when Grandma could sit on the floor with him and play.  He had fond memories of reading or watching TV with Grandma but no memories of playing with her.  That made him sad.  He asked me to promise to do whatever I could do to stay healthy and active so when he had kids they would have a grandma that could play with them and not just watch them play.

So at that point, I needed to figure out how to keep that promise. Growing up, my family ate healthy.  My Dad subscribed to Organic Gardening in the 70's.  We grew dozens of vegetables and had numerous fruit trees. We canned and froze fruits and vegetables at their peak nutritional value.  We bought freezer meat right from the farmer.  Every day the recommended servings of produce was consumed, in addition to multivitamins.  Regular exercise was a normal part of life.  My parents were strong and ate as healthy as possible and yet their health was not optimal and hadn't been in decades.

Being physically active wasn't a problem, as long as I scheduled my workouts.  I love to cook and could shop for great food so eating right wasn't going to be an issue.  Exercise combined with eating right hadn't been enough to insure long-term health for my parents so I knew I needed more to keep that promise.  But what was that something more?  I read and researched and searched for that missing component.  I hoped when I found it, I would know.

And once that first 24 Day Challenge was completed, I knew my search was over.  I felt amazing with an energy and vitality that was different.  I had scoured the internet to find every bit of information I could find on the products and company before allowing my boys to take the supplements, so I knew what I had was different and special.  Honestly, with proper exercise and diet, I know that my Advocare wellness supplements will be a big part of avoiding health issues.  Unlike my parents or siblings, I am on track to make it out of my forties with no chronic health conditions.