Day 15 - Furniture Store Cookies

My children testing out recliners in the "Comfort Zone"

Why do they offer free cookies at furniture stores?  WHY?!!  And WHY do they ask that you keep the cookies in the cookie area?  What is the point?  Why do they want me in the cookie area instead of out on the sales floor looking at furniture?  The furniture store that we visited tonight is even shaped in a loop.  The ideal situation for everyone involved (if you are going to serve free cookies) would be to let your customers stock up on some cookies, send them out in one direction and then loop around for more cookies.  But no.  They ruin their best sales technique with the sign that says "please eat in cookie area".

SO, while my kids are eating the free cookies in the cookie area, I wait and watch them eat cookies when I could be out looking at furniture with potential to buy.  If they were smart, they would let us walk around and eat cookies and then have cleaning demonstrations on the spot for when my kids wipe chocolate on something nice.  Real live demos of stain guard would seal the deal.  Free cookies at furniture stores would make WAY more sense if they did something like that.

And, I don't think I have ever noticed before how many times my kids ask me to hold their cookies.  Yes, I was the Mom shouting "NO, I CAN'T HOLD YOUR COOKIE BECAUSE I WILL EAT IT".  At least 4 times one of my kids asked me to hold their cookie. I felt like I was being haunted by cookies.  At one point, my husband and I were walking and talking and out of nowhere he was eating a cookie (he didn't care about the cookie in the cookie area rule).  I stayed strong. 

I am on Day 14 of the Advocare 24 Day Challenge.  I feel really good.  I like the physical changes that I am witnessing.  My skin looks better than it has in a long time and my clothes are fitting differently (better).

During the first 10 days there was no mention of exercise (that I had noticed).  I have been walking or doing the Stairmaster anyway.  For days 11-24 of the 24 Day Challenge, I see that it recommends at least 30 minutes 5-6 days a week.  In addition to exercise, I am taking something called Catalyst which "has rapid toning effect and preserves lean muscle during times of weight loss and exercise".  Interesting.

So, I ate fresh all day.  It is recommended that I eat less than 30 carbs per meal or snack.  I am checking labels and looking at ingredients.  This is a positive thing.  I am becoming aware of labels again.  There are carbs in everything.  I went out for a run this morning.  I walked my daughter to school.  I am very aware of everything I am doing in order to stay on track for success.

Cookies at the furniture store!!!  They probably tasted like crap, but they sure looked and smelled yummy.  I didn't eat any, but man did it stir up some cravings.  I held tight until I got home and then I indulged in a sugar free hot chocolate.  It had 14 grams of carbs.  It was delicious.  I am pretty sure that it isn't recommended on the 24 Day Challenge, but it was much better option for me than a furniture store cookie.  Maybe that is part of this challenge....challenge myself to choose healthier. Who knows?  Plus, my pants fit better today and that trumps any cookie.

If you are interested in Advocare or information on health, nutrition and wellness, please visit and "Like" my friend and Nutrition Coach Liz Blom's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/lizblom.nutritionandwellness.  Liz offers product information, health and wellness updates and has started posting healthy meal and recipe ideas.