Category Archives: Advocare

MUSCLE INJURY REHAB

“Hamstring strain injuries are very common in sports.  They can become chronic, nagging injuries due to scar tissue formation with up to a 63% chance of re-injury.”  Dynamic Physical Therapy & Sports Enhancement

In high school – long, long ago – I injured my hamstring playing sports and have re-injured it many times since.  IT’S SO FRUSTURATING.  

Five months ago I developed a pinched bursa in my left hip → which led to spasms in my gluteus medius  – a TRUE pain in the butt! → and then the problem trickled down into my hamstring… because it will take any opportunity to cause me grief.

theSOLUTION

First, I got K-Laser Therapy from Laser Therapy & Chiropractic Center for my hip.  This started helping immediately and paired with icing for a few weeks, inflammation was reduced without any medication.  Then I started doing pressure point therapy for my butt muscle – basically I would sit on a tennis ball holding for intervals of 3 minutes while crying from all the pain until the spasm released. Thank you Results Physiotherapy, Murfreesboro Tn for the torturous, yet effective instruction you gave me 🙂  And finally I started using a foam roller and Tye4® to rehab that stubborn hamstring.  

IMG_0488

My BFF.  Her name is Foam Roller

The Tye4 has been HUGE in helping me maintain/regain flexibility and maintain/build strength during this time.  Over the past weeks, when my hamstring is being a nerd and causing aches and pains, I have consistently found relieve after using Tye4!  

 I also kicked my nutrition into high gear by supplementing with a few products that the pros use when they are recovering from injuries.  I figure, if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me!  I’ve added Advocare BioTools and Post-Workout Recovery Drink to my daily intake.  This, along with my basic core nutrition, has done wonders for my recovery.  

Here’s one extra tip…
IMG_0483
Tennis ball + wall + back tension = much relief!!!
Give it a try!
When dealing with muscle injuries, we need to have patience, proper resources and common sense while recovering.  I just thought I’d share what’s been going on with me.  It’s easy to get discouraged, but we gotta hang in there and keep going!  
There is too much life to live to quit. 


ADVOCARE

TESTIMONIES

 

FOR MORE INFO and A FREE EVALUATION, EMAIL

ashley@ashleybensonfitness.com

Visit Advocare.com for full list of products.

If you want to be a part of our 24 Day Challenge group, shoot me an email and we’ll connect and get you set up on a customized 24 DC package perfect for reaching your goals!

ADVOCARE PRODUCT REVIEW: 10 DAY CLEANSE

This week I’m highlighting the 10 Day Cleanse.  
I thought this would be helpful for you guys doing the 
24 Day Challenge with us!  
 
This cleanse is the first 10 days in the challenge.  It’s gentle, effective, and super doable even if you work and travel!

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ADVOCARE PRODUCT REVIEW: MEAL REPLACEMENT SHAKES

Breakfast literally means “breaking the fast”
What you put in your body first thing in the morning really does make a difference in your day.  Fuel your body proper, first thing, and kickstart your metabolism and give yourself what it needs to run efficiently!  
 
Because of the craziness of the morning rush, we need some easy solutions and that’s why I’m highlighting the Advocare Meal Replacement Shakes this week at the start of the school year.  This is my breakfast 4-5 times a week.  The other mornings I’m actually in the kitchen cooking something 
[Check out the video at the bottom of this post for the 3 minutes egg breakfast.  So good.  So easy.  And So not hard to clean up!]
 

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REVIEW: ADVOCARE 24 DAY CHALLENGE [Days 4-10]

[Days 1-3 click here]
[Days 4-10]

The next 4 days are very similar to days 1-3 but we don’t have to drink the FIBER DRINK!!!  Whoop whoop!!!  ProBiotic Restore supplement is added in the morning with the Spark energy drink.  It supports healthy intestinal function*, enhances weight management*, improves nutrient absorption*, provides immune system support*.  Read more here.  Anyway, really good stuff. 

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REVIEW: ADVOCARE 24 DAY CHALLENGE [Day 1-3]

THE 10 DAY CLEANSE PHASE 
DAY 1-3
The 24 Day Challenge begins with a cleanse.  This is a gentle tune-up good to do every 90 days.  It’s the same concept as getting an oil change every 3000-ish miles in our vehicles.   This will allow our body to absorb nutrition and function efficiently for energy and repair.  
 
CONFESSION TIME
So, day 1 I mess up.  Yup and I only admit this to hopefully help others NOT do the same.  I know some of you have done this very thing so I realize it’s easy to do.
 
I rocked this cleanse all day until the very end and forgot to take the herbal cleanse supplement before bed.  Ok, stop laughing.  So for me, day 2 became day 1.  Or I might look at it like I am doing an 11 day cleanse.  So, if you prefer to do the 10 day cleanse, follow my lead from here…
 
THE REAL DAYS 1-3 
 
START THE DAY with a Spark drink (vitamin energy drink).  I do this everyday anyway.  During the cleanse I am taking 1 Catalyst 30 min. before each meal- a branch chain amino acid that protects your muscle from getting burned as energy.  Also good to take when exercising. 
 
* Let me nerd out for just a minute… On average, we burn 1 calorie per minute doing nothing.  Correction – even when we are doing “nothing” like sleeping, our body is working hard to rebuild and repair.  So, of that 1 calorie/minute burned, about 50% comes from carbohydrates, 50% from fat and 10-15% can come from muscle.  It’s preferable to keep the muscle and burn the fat. Can I get an amen?
 
30 MINUTES LATER drink a Fiber Drink followed by breakfast.  These days for me have fallen on busy early morning days, so I quickly mixed a Meal Replacement Drink.  
 
* Let’s talk a sec about this Fiber drink.  First, as you can expect, it’s thick.  My suggestion:  use a straw and drink it fast!  The first day I let it sit a minute and ended up using a spoon to “eat” it!  LOL  It was like apple sauce without the flavor.  
* When choosing the Fiber drink consider this –  Citrus is like gently scrubbing your intestines to remove build-up, which for many people helps minimize cravings.  Peaches & Cream stays in your system longer and is the great food for the gut.  A note from my Coach, Danielle:  “I typically suggest citrus for the cleanse because it is a little more thorough when it comes to scrubbing.   Peaches & cream is great for maintenance after the challenge since it feeds the probiotics and can help with feeling full.”  ~ Thanks Danielle that’s super helpful!
When it comes to this Fiber drink, listen to The Rock

SNACK TIME:  about 10 am I have a snack
 
LUNCH TIME:  Follow the guide – real, balanced food 
 
SNACK TIME:  I drink a Spark and then have a snack about 3:00
 
DINNER TIME:  Take 2 Omega-Plex with this meal
 
BEFORE BED:  Take the herbal cleanse 🙂
 
 
 
 
My grocery shopping before starting 24DC.
I’m not going to bore you with all the food I am eating, but I’ll share a few meals and snack here and there.  This is hormone free grass-fed lean ground beef, slightly grilled veggies (normally I cook them to the point of crispy… not so nutritious), avocado and salsa.  
 BeFunky_beans1.jpg
 Easy, quick and delicious snacks. 
This was my breakfast for the first 3 days of the cleanse.  Berry Meal Replacement is so good.  I also adore the chocolate 🙂  This is my “running out the door” version:  water and powder shaken and dumped into a cup with ice.  
 
And this is my “Oh cool I have 5 more minutes” variation – Blended with ice.  
One more thing…we need to drink lots of water!
Things on the cleanse change slightly for the next days. 
 
Be intentional in everything you do!
Stay healthy!

ADVOCARE INFO

Advocare is a world-class nutrition company since 1993.  

 

We specialize in:

  • Health & Wellness
  • Weight Management
  • Vibrant Energy
  • Sports Performance 
  • Skin Care
The products are formulated by an elite Scientific and Medical Advisory Board.  The team has experience in pharmacology, toxicology, nutrition, sports performance and pediatrics – with over 200 years of combined experience.  
Click on the links below to watch short video clips and articles.   Email me at ashley@ashleybensonfitness.com for a FREE Health Evaluation (no obligation) to see if this is a fit for you!
 

ENDORSORS
DREW BREES – NFL 
JASON WITTEN – DALLAS COWBOYS
DAVID STARR – MOTORSPORTS DRIVER
ADAM BURISH – NHL HOCKEY 
MICHAEL W. SMITH – SINGER/SONGWRITER/PRODUCER 
KUTLESS – BAND

SPORTS ADVISORY COUNCIL 
SCIENTIFIC AND MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD 
DR. TODD MILLER 
ADVOCARE GUIDING PRINCIPLES 

WEIGHT LOSS & WELLNESS TESTIMONIES
HOLT MEAD – older and weight loss
BRIE WONG – lost 115 lbs
HEATHER HODGES – a tired mom 
MERRY SEDLAK – before/after
ROCHELLE KENNEDY – vacation w/out weight gain


SPORTS PERFORMANCE TESTIMONIES
MIA FINNEGAN National & World Fitness Champion, mom to 3 
RICH FRONING –  3 time Competitive Fitness  Champion

 

OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS
24 DAY CHALLENGE REVIEW
CATALYST, MNS, SPARK and PRODUCTS SAFE FOR KIDS 

 

FREE WELLNESS EVALUATION– no obligation 
This is the fun part!  I want to help YOU!  What are your goals?  What do you need to do to be the best version of YOU?  Every story is different and your plan needs to be personalized to YOU.  So, start the conversation by sending me an email.  We will chat and come up with a plan that fits your life – what is it that you need? Health, energy, time, a little extra $$$?  We will first lay the foundation for success, which is nutrition.  Real food and high quality supplements to fill in the gaps is key to reaching your goals.  Advocare has over 70 products and our team will find the perfect fit for you.  Your plan will be personalized to meet medical conditions as well.  We will coach you through it all 🙂  Once that’s in order, we will layer on the fitness.  Again, I am your coach and I will give you workouts that are sustainable in your life.  Your personalized program will depend on whether you workout at a gym with lots of equipment, spend your “fitness” time in group classes, or workout at home with little or no equipment.  

BEFORE & AFTER story – Merry Sedlak

Meet my new friend, Merry.  The first time I met her I said, “WOW, YOU HAVE SO MUCH ENERGY!”  I couldn’t help but say that out loud (weird thing to say first off maybe… but I couldn’t help it… she DID).  She was overflowing with joy, passion, excitement and I wanted to know her story.  So many people seem to have a dark cloud over their life from stress, lack, sickness, depression and discouragement… but not this girl!  I found out this wasn’t always the case…

“January 17, 2012 – Physically, emotionally and financially we were broken we prayed for a solution.  We were introduced to Advocare from our dear friends and heard HOPE that our situation could be different!  We decided right then and there to make a change.  We started the Advocare 24 Day Challenge and had AMAZING results.  I lost 14 lbs and 17 inches and Anthony lost 20 lbs and 20 inches!  Needless to say we knew everyone could add value to their life, health and finances through this vehicle so we got very intentional to share our story and help as many people as we could.  Fast forward 2 years and a miraculous pregnancy (we struggled for 8 years and tried every medical intervention possible).  We had our son via IVF  in 2008 but had not been able to sustain a pregnancy until Advocare helped my body to do what it’s created to do.  Advocare does not make medical claims and I know that the Lord blessed us with Genevieve but I also know that Advocare enabled my body to do what it had previously not been able to do.  Anthony and I have lost over 100 lbs combine and have been able to help hundreds of people find physical and financial freedom.” Merry Sedlak

Thank you Merry for sharing your story and encouraging us!!! 

Merry lost 50 lbs in 2013 and she will loose 30-40 lbs in 2014 AND run a 1/2 marathon!!!  You go girl!

If you need a kickstart or maybe even a new start, take the 24 Day Challenge and start writing YOUR story.  We want to see you succeed.  Email ashley@ashleybensonfitness.com for a free evaluation and we will get you set up on what you need to reach your health & wellness goals!



 
MAY WE ALL HAVE AS MUCH ENERGY AND LIFE AS MERRY!  

JOIN THE 24 DAY CHALLENGE!!!

Last year we took the Slow-Carb Challenge here on the blog and we were very successful! It was a lot of fun doing that together! I still hear stories on how that 6 week challenge set you on a path to better health AND I LOVE THAT!!! We learned some valuable info about food and how our bodies respond to that food. That’s not to say that we won’t slide every now and then but we are on the right path!

Now, I’d like to introduce you to my hubby, Jeremy.  He’s a cool guy.  He has a degree in Kinesiology and received a Personal Training Certification, NSCA. 

 

Together we are TEAM BENSON and we would like for you to join the team!


This year TEAM BENSON is adding a second layer to our journey: SUPPLEMENTS! There are many misconceptions and misinformation regarding supplements and we would love the opportunity to clear the air.
Supplements are designed to fill in the gaps of what’s missing in our daily diet. Every time we eat we have a choice: we either

  • Eat to NOT be hungry.
  • Eat because of cravings.
  • Eat to fill an emotional need.
  • Eat to support nutrition today.
  • Eat to support nutrition today, strengthen our body for the future AND to repair damage that already exists.

Using food alone to reach the goal in the final point is nearly impossible for the average person because of lack of knowledge and our poor condition of our food.  This is why we take a multivitamin, but many people are wasting their $$$ and not getting the benefits they hope to achieve.
 Consider joining us in a 24 DAY CHALLENGE! Be a part of our COACHING GROUP and not only will you get results in 24 days, even more valuable, you will be set on the right path and understand how to use supplements in a way to support your nutritional needs today AND years from now!

By joining our coaching group you will buy the 24 Day AdvoCare Challenge from this site and you are in!  That’s it!  Here’s what you get out of the group:


* All the supplements you will need including a gentle herbal cleanse, omega-plex, 2 different boxes of SPARK (vitamin energy drink), meal replacement shakes (your choice of flavor), MNS system (including multi-vitamin, omega-3 and probiotics)

* Personal coaching on

  •    the supplements you are taking
  •    why you should take these supplements
  •    how to choose supplements that actually work
  •    taking supplements on a budget
  •    how to eat to support your efforts with supplements as well as exercising

* Direct access to Ashley or Jeremy with questions and coaching 
* Workout and training tips along the way
* And don’t forget RESULTS!!!  You will feel better and look better after this challenge!!!

Take a look at the challenge step by step here.

Jeremy and I have used AdvoCare products for over 10 years.  This is good stuff.
JOIN THE 24 DAY COACHING GROUP BUY ORDERING HERE
 
WE ARE YOUR COACHES
WE ARE EXCITED TO TAKE THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU!!!

#teambenson