Eat Fat Get Fit by Kusha Karvandi (Book Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

The health and fitness industry makes people think they are weak and that the best way to achieve the body they want is to suck it up and push harder.

 But if more is better, why do the majority of us rebound and gain all of the weight back after dieting?

The truth is you’re stronger than you think. It isn’t that you somehow lack willpower or discipline; it’s that you just don’t have the right decision-making system to optimize your diet for your body.

If you’ve tried diets before that didn’t work, don’t worry because Eat Fat Get Fit isn’t about a diet—it’s a way of thinking. With the right perspective, you’ll be able to look at nutrition and fat loss differently, so you can get great results for life.

While your naysayers are counting calories, feeling deprived, and still struggling to lose weight, you’ll be vibrant, full of energy and supercharging your metabolism for sustained fat loss.

My thoughts-

This book is short and sweet and to the point. You could easily read it in one sitting. It gives info on several different types of dieting and why those methods don't work. It then goes into the philosophy that has recently surfaced- eating good fats like avocado, nuts, and olive oil is actually a fantastic way to lose fat. I found most of the recipes at the end of the book to sound absolutely delicious, which doesn't always happen in these health books. I would eat any of the recipes and plan on adding several into my rotation on my weight loss journey. I recommend this book to anyone looking to eat better for their health and who may want to shed some unwanted weight.

The Prime by Kulreet Chaudhary, M.D. (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

READY TO GIVE UP THE FIGHT - AND WIN THE WAR?

Integrative neurologist Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary discovered a beautiful side effect to the eating and lifestyle tools she gave her brain patients--spontaneously shedding excess pounds. In this, her first book, she shows us how to sharpen the brain, and smarten and heal the gut. Weight gain is not about the food, but about the body’s environment. Excess weight is a result of the body being in a toxic, inflammatory state. If your body is not prepared or ‘primed’ for weight loss, you will fight an uphill biochemical battle.  Her program is not about what you can't have or do, it's about adding simple teas and herbs, and succeeding without giving up any foods you love. With The Prime, Dr. Chaudhary has reverse engineered our way of eating, so we can stop dieting backward and start losing weight instead. You'll learn:

--The importance of neuroadaptation, food addiction, and the brain (or, why your brain and gut have made it so hard to lose weight in the past!)
--Why it’s not about what you eat, but what you digest
--How to determine if you have a Leaky Brain—and what The Prime can do about it (hint: everything)
--How to easily crush cravings (no willpower required), ignite energy and fat, and biohack your lifestyle habits.

Lastly, you’ll learn how to live fully Primed, the secrets of the Super-Primed, and when you’re ready to explore new foods, how to eat according to your unique constitution.

PREPARED TO LIVE AT YOUR PRIME?

My thoughts-

I was drawn to this book because I think there is a lot of food addiction going on in our country and I think I am one of many people who struggles with this problem. I have a really hard time with sugar specifically. I think the book is on to the right outlook for this problem and offers interesting advice for how to tackle it. A good majority of the book is not in layman's terms, which may make it more difficult for some people to understand what is being said. There are also a lot of supplements and things that would need to be bought in order to follow this plan, which makes it unattainable to many. I think it is worth a read for the advice, but I feel like the amount of supplements needed is overwhelming. I do think The Prime is a good introduction into Ayurvedic medicine.

Effortless Healing by Dr. Joseph Mercola (Book Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own. 

About the book-

LET YOUR BODY DO THE WORK
 
Do you have to tell your leg to heal from a scrape? Your lungs to take in air? Your body that it’s hungry? No. Your body does these things automatically, effortlessly. Vibrant health is your birthright and within your grasp; you just have to step out of the way. In Effortless Healing, online health pioneer, natural medicine advocate, and bestselling author Dr. Joseph Mercola reveals the nine simple secrets to a healthier, thinner you. The results are amazing and the steps can be as easy to implement as:
 
·         Throwing ice cubes in your water to make it more “structured”
·         Skipping breakfast, as it could be making you fat
·         Eating up to 75 percent of your calories each day in fat for optimal health, reduction of heart disease, and cancer prevention
·         Avoiding certain meat and fish, but enjoying butter
·         Eating sauerkraut (and other fermented foods) to improve your immune system and your mood
·         Walking barefoot outside to decrease system-wide inflammation (and because it just feels great)
·         Enjoying a laugh: it’s as good for your blood vessels as fifteen minutes of exercise
 
Effortless Healing is the distillation of decades of Dr. Mercola’s experience and cutting-edge medical knowledge. With his wisdom and that of your body, you can optimize your health, your weight, and your life…effortlessly.

My thoughts-

I am always interested in what Dr. Mercola has to say. I first started looking into some of the things that I felt like didn't add up when my daughter was born and my husband was still in chiropractic school and that was around the time that I discovered Dr. Mercola. I love that he has a background in both medicine and alternative medicine. I think that people with an integrative view usually have a more well rounded view of things and are more likely to look at things objectively. Dr. Mercola is also one of the hugest supporters of gmo labeling which is a huge deal to me and further shows me that he is on the side of health. He also frequently posts health documentaries you can watch for free on is website, so to me it is very obvious that our health is a top priority for him. Effortless  Healing is full of so much useful information that so many people might not know. There are so many key principals mentioned that can help lead to a healthier life. Mercola goes in to depth on each of the 9 principals (listed above) he feels you need to follow to optimize your health. I found myself nodding more than once as I was reading this information and can not wait to implement the things  I didn't already know myself in my never ending quest to be more healthy. He even includes instructions for making kefir and fermented foods at your house. I am definitely going to give that a try soon. Some of the things Mercola mentions are different than what you may have previously heard from the medical community, so he includes very thorough explanations of why he has come to believe what he does and, to me, it all makes a great deal of sense. I recommend this book to anyone that has questions about what exactly we should be fueling our bodies with or who are looking to improve their overall health. 

Effortless Healing is available on Amazon.com

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The Doctor's Diet Cookbook by Travis stork (Cookbook Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

A companion to the #1 New York Times best-selling diet book that has swept the nation, The Doctor's Diet Cookbook is a collection of simple, delicious, and balanced recipes that will help you maintain a healthy weight now and throughout your life. The highly flexible and workable plan in The Doctor's Diet unlocked the power of 10 Food Prescriptions to activate weight loss while restoring health, preventing disease and adding years to readers’ lives, and this cookbook is an extension of that plan. The positive feedback on the tasty recipes in The Doctor’s Diet was overwhelming, and you demanded more. So, in The Doctor's Diet Cookbook, Dr. Travis Stork brings brand new, easy-to-follow and quick-to-prepare ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and, of course, dessert, all designed to support your weight loss efforts and keep you at optimal health. Dr. Travis believes that in order to commit to healthy eating, our food must taste good and these meals reflect his passion by presenting unique food variations that are delightful for the palate, as well as for the waistline. Plus, it’s flexible for almost any dietary restriction or choice; whether you’re a “meat and potatoes” type, a vegetarian, or watching your sodium or sugar intake, this cookbook has mouthwatering options for you.

My thoughts-

I absolutely loved Travis Stork's book The Doctor's Diet. There was so much good information in it and it was written in a tone that felt like you were having a casual conversation with a friend. I like Stork's laid back style and his terrific advice. The book also included several recipes, all of which sounded tasty, but there just were not that many recipes since it was a self help book and not a cook book. I was super excited to see this companion cookbook come out. I knew that the recipes would be healthy and tasty and I wasn't disappointed. The book is full of great recipes for the whole day as well as information about why specific foods are good for you and why you should eat them. I appreciate the breakdown of why we should eat certain foods rather than a long list of what we shouldn't eat. This book is encouraging and easy to read. 

The Diet's Doctor Cookbook will be available for purchase October 21. You can pre-order it now on Amazon.com.

About the author-

Travis Stork graduated Magna Cum Laude from Duke University where he studied anthropology. He received his medical degree at the University of Virginia and completed his residency in emergency medicine and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. On October 9, 2013 Dr. Stork joined tele health company MDLIVE as Chairman of its Medical Advisory Board. Stork is best known for appearing on season 8 of The Bachelor and for being the lead doctor on the panel on the syndicated television show The Doctors.

Garcinia Cambogia & Slender Cleanse Review

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

I am always looking for something to help boost the last pounds I need to lose, especially since I have a wedding to attend in June. I am looking for a jump start, but I do not like to take just any pills. It has to be something that is derived naturally. I like the idea of garcinia cambogia because of that and the slender cleanse included in this duo of products also falls in line within the perimeters of expectations. I have been taking these two products for around two weeks. When taking a new supplement, it is always important to read the bottle for instructions and warnings and since Slender Cleanse is a laxative formula, it is recommended not to take it more than 7 days in a row. So I have been taking that along with the garcinia cambogia 5 days in a row, followed by a few days of just the garcinia cambogia and then the pair together again. The first two days of taking the pills, I saw a significant weight drop off of 4-5 pounds, but things have tapered off since then. I have noticed I don't lose much at all without the help of the slender cleanse on the days I am resting from taking that, so to me, it seems like Slender Cleanse is more helpful as a weight loss aide than Garcinia Cambogia, but I have not taken them separately, so I can not say for sure. I do have about half of the bottles left to take, so hopefully I will see another drop in weight at some point. Supplements work different for different people, so it is possible that these two products would work better for other people. I would still recommend giving them a try since you pay the price you would for a bottle of just one for both products and it is worth buying for the slender cleanse alone.

Buy Garcinia Cambogia & Slender Cleanse on Amazon.com.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The Virgin Diet Cookbook by J.J. Virgin (Cookbook Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

The companion to the New York Times bestseller The Virgin Diet brings the groundbreaking health and weight loss program into your kitchen. With more than 150 delicious and practical recipes, The Virgin Diet Cookbook is designed to show you how to incorporate anti-inflammatory, healing foods into your diet to reclaim your health and reset your metabolism, while avoiding the 7 foods that are most likely to cause food intolerance.

These tasty, easy-to-make recipes are free of gluten, soy, dairy, eggs, corn, peanuts, and sugar and artificial sweeteners. With mouthwatering suggestions for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and snacks, you'll lose weight fast while enjoying what you eat!. The Virgin Diet Cookbook will also help you to stock your kitchen, provide delicious substitutes for common ingredients, and offer easy swaps for eating out and on-the-go.

My thoughts-

I have been meaning to read The Virgin Diet ever since I heard about because J.J. Virgin is someone I look up to and I trust the information that she puts out will have my overall health in mind and not just some sort of quick fix for fast weight loss that I will just gain back. I was excited to see that this companion cookbook came out and I decided that I would just go ahead and check this one out because I thought it would likely have enough information for me to follow the diet within the book's introduction and I was right. I definitely think you could skip the more in depth version and just got straight for this one. The thought behind this "diet" is eliminating foods that are commonly not tolerated well. I think it is genius. It makes sense to me that there would be gut issues (and maybe even neurological issues like sleep deprivation, depression ect.) when our body is trying to process something it just can't. The idea is to eliminate all of the common low tolerance foods for a few weeks and introduce them back into your diet slowly to see what your triggers are. In the process, you are eating healthy, clean meals and hopefully it will get you in the habit of doing that on a regular basis. As far as the actual recipes, there are so many tasty options which is nice. There is no deprivation going on and something else that is really cool is that this diet would not be difficult to follow even if you are on a specialty diet (paleo, gluten free, vegetarian, vegan). I think that if you are looking to lose a little weight, improve your overall health and maybe gain some healthier eating habits, definitely pick up a copy of this book!

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Bulu Box (Health & Wellness Subscription Box Review)

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.


I think subscription boxes are just the best idea that anyone could ever think up. As a consumer, I love the opportunity to try a bunch of products I may not have picked up individually if not for the box and as the daughter of long time business owners, I can see how it could benefit companies to get word out about their various products. It is a win-win and such a fun thing to receive in the mail. There are so many different types of subscription boxes available now, but the general idea is the same, you are sent several trial size products in what ever category or theme the subscription box is for a set price per month.

As someone who really enjoys health and wellness and fitness, I really excited to learn about Bulu Box. I am always on the look out for products to improve my workouts, my well being and my overall health. When I opened the box, I saw a product I am absolutely familiar with- Smarty Pants vitamins. I was super excited! These are the vitamins I give my children daily, so I already know how wonderful the companies is, but I was excited to see that these were gummy vitamins meant for adults. I think it is super important to take a multi-vitamin, but even more important to make sure we are getting enough omega 3s and vitamin d and you usually don't find that rolled into one multi vitamin. To top off the convenience of it, these taste great! I will definitely be getting more of these. I was not familiar with any of the other products in the box, but that is the whole point of theses subscription boxes, do discover new things. There was a container of Tapaz 2 Go- hummus and lentil crackers. I sent those to work as a snack for my husband and he absolutely loved it. There were two packets of Rootology Breathe Free for nasal, sinus and eye health. On the package it says a non-drowsy formula. I will reach for these in a few weeks when everything in Texas is blooming and my nose and eyes are itching! I like that both vitamin c and vitamin d are included in these capsules. Every time someone I know is sick, I always urge them to TAKE VITAMIN D! It is such a huge immunity booster. Other products that were in the box included NeoCell Beauty Bursts Gourmet Collagen Soft Chews, Body Glove Surge Energy Gel and BSN N.O. Explode (for energy before working out). I can tell that Bulu Box and I think alike, I would definitely reach for the majority of these products, or at least be curious enough about them to give them a try.

In addition to the product samples in the box, there are several coupons included, as well as a postcard that explains a little about each product. The postcard also includes a sample journal, where you can write down how you feel before and after each product you try from the box. I thought that was really cool. It shows me that Bulu Box truly does care about your well being.

Overall, I thought this was a good health and wellness box. I would be interested to see what the difference is between this box and the box that they offered geared toward weight loss is. I have a feeling that, at the moment anyway, that box would better suit my needs. I think anyone who is interested in health and wellness or doesn't know where to start to get healthy but wants to would love Bulu Box.
Bulu Box is just $10 a month including shipping. Use the coupon codes below to save money when you buy a 3 or 6 month subscription-

• Purchase a 3 month subscription and get your first Bulu Box FREE with code: JUMPONIT3 ($15)
• Purchase a 6 month subscription and get your first 3 months FREE with code: JUMPONIT6 (30)

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*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The Doctor's Diet by Travis Stork, M.D.

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book:

The Doctor's Diet is the cure to unhealthy eating — an American epidemic with a death toll higher than that of car accidents, drug abuse, smoking, and gun violence combined. Dr. Stork is genuinely concerned about what he considers to be a true crisis. He has created a flexible and workable diet plan that will help readers lose weight, restore health, prevent disease and ultimately add years to their lives. In the book, Dr. Stork explains all of the potentially fatal health risks associated with an unhealthy diet and the specific food groups that can act as medicines to attain immediate results. Flexibility is built into the recipes in order to accommodate all different diets and skill levels, from meat lovers to vegetarians and chefs to non-cooks. In The Doctor's Diet, Dr. Stork outlines the steps to a healthier life with encouragement, personal anecdotes, and a passionate sense of urgency to rescue the reader from diet-related demise.

My thoughts:

I haven't watched The Doctors on tv in a long time because, well, two 4 year old boys will keep you too busy to watch daytime television, but I have watched it enough in the past to know that I usually agree with Dr. Travis Stork and I know that he is an advocate for health and wellness, so when I saw that he wrote a new book about weight loss and eating well, I knew it was something I would definitely want to read. I was right. This book is written in a conversational, casual tone, leaving behind medical jargon in favor of laymen's terms and easy to understand advice. Dr. Stork discusses different foods and why they are healthy and why they are not or even if the jury is still out on specific foods. He cites extensive sources at the end to back up his claims in case anyone is interested in reading further or checking out the studies he refers to throughout the book. That is something I can really appreciate. This book is a great place to start for someone struggling with their weight that just does not know where to start to gain their health back or even to someone who has a good idea what needs to be done but needs some good recipes to add to their repertoire. I was reading through the book thinking, this is absolutely terrific advice, but I wonder how awful the recipes will be! That is an awful way to think about health, but it is true that most of us probably do. While I have not tried any of the recipes just yet, as I was reading recipe after recipe my mouth would water and my stomach even growled a little. I didn't see anything I wouldn't try and I even think my kids would eat most of the recipes offered here.

The biggest points are eat clean and get moving. I think most of us know that, but the positive way in which this information is presented, with specific power foods mentioned to help boost your weight loss and hunger pangs, I think Dr. Stork really hit the nail on the head. This will be the book I recommend to anyone who wishes to eat better, get healthier or lose a few pounds.


About the author:

Travis Stork, M.D. is best known from his television ventures, first as a suitor on The Bachelor and more recently as the head doctor on the daytime talk show The Doctors. Dr. Stork was educated at the University of Virginia and Duke University. He has written several health and wellness books including The Lean Belly Prescription and The Doctor is In: A 7-Step Prescription for Optimal Wellness.
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The Doctor's Diet is available now on Amazon.com.

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Tepamine HCL Review & Giveaway!

*Disclosure of material connection- I was provided a free bottle of Tepamine HCL in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

I feel like every since I started dating my (now) husband, I have slowly put on weight over these last ten years. We got married 3 years in, 6 months after we got married I was pregnant with our first baby and 22 months after her arrival I was pregnant with twin boys. My kids are 6, 4 & 4 now and I have been struggling with really taking off the pounds that make me uncomfortable. I managed to take most of it off a few years back and then gained most of it back. It can be such a struggle to be a mom to 3, take care of all of their needs, my husband's needs, the cooking and house duties, paying the bills and whatever else we as moms need to do. So it doesn't hurt to have a little help to get started is always welcome. I was over the moon excited to hear about Tepamine HCL. Not only is this supplement touted as an appetite suppressant, but promises to block fat and speed up your metabolism to boot. Besides the weight loss benefits, this is also an anti-aging ingredients. This supplement really gives you a lot of bang for your buck. Some of the main ingredients in Tepamine HCL are green bean coffee extract, ginger root, zinc, biotin, folic acid and the appetite suppressing saffron. As you can see, Tepamine HCL is full of natural ingredients meant to help your body be the best it can be.


The ingredients and promises are fine and nice, I know, but what you really want to hear is how the product works. I have taken a few weight loss aids in my time and have not had any luck with any of them. I have never felt like any were ever good at appetite suppression and I was absolutely always hungry. Not true with Tepamine HCL. After just a few days I was definitely feeling more full and if I tried to eat more than I should it almost made me feel sick. When I ate appropriate portions, I was full at the right time. I drank lots of water and did some kickboxing workouts and I lost about 7 pounds in 20 something days. I don't have a ton of weight to lose, maybe 15 more pounds, so I am sure someone with a higher weight to lose could probably lose even more. On the bottle, the directions say to take one capsule in the morning and one again half an hour before lunch on an empty stomach, but it does say that once you have tried that you can up the dose to two at a time. I tried that and I was having problems sleeping, but I have a caffeine sensitivity, even to a tiny little bit, so I am sure that will not be the case for most people. Anyway, I started taking two in the morning and then just one at lunch and that seemed to work really well for me.


So the big question...would I recommend this product? Absolutely. There are no negative side effects (as long as you stick to one capsule at a time if you have caffeine sensitivities), is full of natural ingredients and really does supress your appetite and give you more energy. I think anyone trying to lose weight would be please with their results with Tepamine HCL!

You can find Tepamine HCL on Amazon.com.

The awesome people at Skin Pro Labs want to give one of my lucky readers the chance to win their own bottle of Tepamine HCL. Enter below via the Rafflecopter for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Influenster's Good Life VoxBox- Great Products to Get Your Healthy Living On

*Disclosure- I received the Good Life VoxBox in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to render a positive review. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

The Good Life VoxBox

I have received several VoxBoxes from Influester in the few years that I have been a member of their website and I have to say- this one has been one of my favorites- second only to the Mary Kay VoxBox, which will be super hard to top. I am kind of a health nut, so I love discovering new products to enhance that part of my life. The Good Life VoxBox was full of some great health related products, several of which I had never even heard of. Here is what was in the box:

Zone Perfect Greek Yogurt Bars-

Meal replacement bars have been around for a while, but the Greek yogurt craze is a fairly new phenomenon. Zone Perfect took tasty "health" food- Greek yogurt- and coated what may have otherwise been a so-so tasting meal replacement bar with it. The one I received was pretty tasty. Definitely a bar that I would eat again.

Nonni's Thin Addictives-

I loved these! Nonni's Thin Addictives were really tasty biscotti. I thought the texture was perfect and the taste was spot on. This is the kind of healthy snack that you don't mind eating because it almost feels like an indulgence.

UrgentRx-

I hadn't heard of UrgentRx until I received this box from Influenster. It is a really novel idea. These are effervescent drinks that treat specific ailments- got a headache? There's an UrgentRx for that. Allergies? They have you covered! They also have drink powders for heart burn, critical care and stomach upset. This is definitely a more natural way to treat your ailments. I will definitely be using these more.

New Skin Liquid Band-Aid

I was so excited about this product because my kids and I are constantly getting little cuts and scrapes outside. I happened to have cut my foot the day this box arrived, so I took out the liquid band-aid to try. I put it on right after the cut and boy did it burn when I sprayed it on, but other than that, I was impressed. It kept my wound protected and I forgot all about it. In fact I wondered why there was a little part of my foot that looked so slimy and then I remembered that I had sprayed that on! Next time, I will just wait a little bit before spraying it on so hopefully it won't burn as much, but I really liked the New Skin Liquid Band-Aid.

Vitamin Shoppe Garcinia Cambogia- 

I am usually not a weight loss aid type of person, but Garcinia Cambogia is a natural product and I have heard about it on the Dr. Oz show so I was excited to try it. You take two capsules before each meal. I have definitely noticed a bit of appetite suppression and that this is a great aid to keep the digestive system working well. I even lost a few pounds. I bought a second bottle I liked it so much, so hopefully I will be able to lose a few more.

There was not a product in the Good Life VoxBox that I didn't like. I would recommend any of these products to anyone trying to lead a healthier lifestyle or just is curious about health related products.

African Mango Lean- Weight Loss Journey + Giveaway

I have mentioned on this blog several times about my struggles to lose weight. I eat really healthy for the most part, but I have a sweet tooth that gets me in trouble and I am not good about scheduling my time (I have 3 preschool aged children I stay at home with) for working out. I have been taking African Mango Lean to aide in my weight loss and have written about that journey over at Mommy's Favorite Things. Creative Bioscience wants to give another lucky person the chance to win their own 90 day supply of African Mango Lean! Enter via the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

As for me, I have lost some of the 15 pounds that I would love to see come off. I want to be at my goal weight by April so I will look fabulous and feel great at a friend's wedding! I just ordered Tony Horton's (you know, the P90X guy!!) new workout plan 10 Minute Trainer and I am hoping it will be just the extra push I need to get those last pounds off. The workouts look intense, but doable and maybe even kind of fun and 10 minutes a day should be a lot easier for me to accomplish! Here's to knowing I CAN do it and to working hard to get there!


*Disclosure- I received one or more of the above mentioned products for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions stated are 100 % my own

90 Day Weight Loss Challenge with African Mango Lean

Hello everyone! If you have been following this blog for a while, you know that I struggle with 10-15 pounds that I just can't seem to keep off. I have started eating vegetarian, recently started jogging and I have seen a pound or two come off. I thought to give myself a little jump start, I would take the Creative Bioscience 90 day weight loss challenge. I chose African Mango Lean as my weight loss aid. See my guest post at Mommy's Favorite Things. That is where I will post about this journey and where someone else will have a chance to win a 90 day supply of African Mango Lean at the end of my 90 day adventure. I am excited. I am hoping to get this weight off and keep it off this time! Be sure and leave a comment on Mommy's Favorite Things on my post, I am going to need your support! :)


 

Filippo Berio Olive Oil Review

I was pretty excited to be invited to the Filippo Berio Olive Oil campaign through Bzzagent. As I have mentioned on this blog a few times (okay- more than a few!) I started really trying to cook and eat healthy in 2007 after I became pregnant with my first baby. One of the very first things I did, was start using olive oil as my main oil.

I really liked the taste and quality of Filippo Berio. I love that it comes in a glass bottle. Being in glass seems to preserve the full flavor of the oil, at least to me, as opposed to using a plastic bottle. On top of that, you don't have to worry about BPA (bisphenol a) with glass. And it's more environmentally friendly.

Olive oil is very versatile. You can use it for everything- from sauteing to oven frying chicken to using it as a drizzle for veggies or a base for a salad dressing. You can even use it as a substitute for butter!

I would absolutely recommend Filippo Berio to anyone who uses olive oil or who is interested in starting.  You can get more information at FilippoBerio.com. There is even a great section full of awesome recipes!

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Disclaimer- I received free Filippo Berio olive oil through Bzzagent in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review.

Getting Healthy in June Days 6 +7

Well, the last few days have been nuts and I have slipped up a few times and not done my workouts. My 4 year old has all of the sudden decided that sleeping is something that she doesn't require pretty much at all. I usually do my workouts after all of the kids are in bed, but she keeps staying awake until almost 11! I am going to just start doing them as soon as I put the boys to sleep. I did manage to fit in a 15 minutes Pilates workout. I did that while they were all awake. It was funny because Miles was trying to do the workout with me, it was super cute. I think I have decided I like Pilates much better than Yoga, but maybe one day Pilates will make me flexible enough to actually get better at Yoga. I am decent at it, but not as good as I like. I won a yoga prize package a while back at a Gaiam TV twitter party that included yoga blocks, I need to remember to utilize them. :) Anyway, I know that I probably won't have time for any workout tomorrow because I have my cousins graduation at 11 AM, then her party at 3 PM and then Adam and I are going to start our anniversary celebration. We have been married for 6 years on Sunday! Time flies when you're having fun (or you have 3 kids and your husband is constantly in school ;)) Well, I will try to wake up early and fit in a workout. And I will definitely be doing the Shred tonight! No excuses! The exact same thing happened the last time I did this workout. I did a terrible job the first week and then stuck to my guns and did it for 30 days after the first week was out of the way, looks like that is how it is going to be again. So I guess it's now turned into the 37 day shred. lol

I have really been good about eating vegetarian, minus the whole eating eggs thing. Any Vegetarians/Vegans out there have any tips for that? In fact, it has got to a point that the thought of eating meat makes me feel sick. That has always been, but now even more so. I might be sticking to this for good. I won't make my family, unless they just want to, but I have been trying to cut meat out of my diet for so long and I am glad that I have finally been successful! And it really hasn't been that difficult. I do need to start keeping up with my food diary on Myftitnesspal so that I make sure I stay within my calorie allowance. I have made one exception to eating vegetarian (besides the eggs) and that is to continue to take Krill oil. The benefits have just been so great for me.

Well, I probably won't write journal entry about this again until Monday, so see ya then!

Getting Healthy in June Day 4 + Day 5

Well Day 4 did not go at all well. Actually, that is not totally true. I did pretty well eating throughout the day. Yesterday was the first day my husband was off in four days. Sounds like very little, but since he is a nurse, he works 12 hour shifts, so we rarely see each other. Anyway, my daughter goes to dance class with my mother in law on Monday afternoon, so we decided to go to Target with our two year old boys and ended up at Golden Corral for dinner. I am proud to say I stuck with the vegetarian plan. I had a baked potato, about 1/2  a cup of peas, some rice with mixed veggies and then I had a few things to dip in the chocolate fountain.

The problem was, when my mother in law brought my daughter home, she also brought Adam's cousin who is visiting from San Jose, California. Don't get me wrong, I was very happy to see her and I have loved getting to know her, but I didn't think ahead and do my workout in the morning and I was beat by the time all of the kids got in bed.

Day 5 went pretty decent. I didn't keep up with Myfitnesspal today and that is always an issue for me, but I did manage to do Level 2 of the 30 Day Shred and my memory was correct. Even though it was more intense than level 1, it is just a more comfortable routine for me. I will stick with it, unless I feel like I can do level 3 at some point!

I haven't lost but a few ounces so far, but I can definitely feel my body changing shape again and that is always nice! I remember how great my clothes fit after I lost a few pounds the last time I did The Shred and then they all got two big for me! This time, I am aiming to stay that way for good! The goal right now is to lose at least 5 pounds by June 23rd, we have two weddings to go to that day and it would be lovely to feel comfortable and cute in my fancy clothes. :)

Getting Healthy in June- Day 2

I forgot how after doing the first day of The 30 Day Shred, I can barely walk. I was reminded of that today and remembered just how hard the first 3 days of the program are. The first because it's new and difficult and the second and third because pretty much every muscle in your body is used for the workout, so the next day or two come with lots of soreness. It doesn't help that we have a house with stairs now and going up and down them is killer! May have to pop a few tylenol tonight and tomorrow, as I did not get much sleep yesterday. I think it is a fantastic workout, I love the 3-2-1 interval system (3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio, one minute of abs, 3 sets of each) It is only a 20 minute workout, but the most effective one I have ever done. And I have tried many!

As far as Day 2 of being vegetarian, I seem to be having a difficult time staying away from eggs. For this next week, I think I will stick to lacto-ovo vegetarianism and see if I can figure it out after that. This is a big change and I know I can go egg free, but it seems like I need some time to figure that out! I did great staying within my calorie allowance today and drank plenty of water, but I am a water lover so that is not difficult for me.

I tried to add in a little pilates in the morning, hoping it would help me stretch the muscles that were sore, it didn't really, but I am thinking it might if I continue doing so. I might try rotating pilates and yoga and see if either/or will help with the muscle soreness. Of course, I know my body will be used to it in a few days, but it never hurts to tone either. :)

Tomorrow I am going grocery shopping. I asked my husband to look over the list and tell me if he wanted me to buy anything extra and he said he'd eat whatever I make, so that makes things much easier!! I have a menu planned for the week, which I will share tomorrow. For now, I need some sleep!

Getting Healthy in June!

Back in January, I set a resolution to continue to exercise and eat as healthy as possible, to feel better about myself, to set a good example for my kids and to just feel healthy overall.

I did really well for a while, I lost all of the weight I wanted to and was doing well and then I let life get in the way. My husband works long hours and overnights, which often leaves me feeling alone with everything else, including our 3 very small children. He tries his best to help, but he is usually just too tired. Add to that the fact that we bought a house and the stresses of moving...well, all of my hard work eventually was depleted! So sad for me! I know it's my own fault for all of the excuses and I am determined to make being a healthy a lifelong habit so...

I decided for June that I would jump start things by going Vegetarian. Yesterday was day one and I think I overate, but it will take some getting used to since it is such a big adjustment! I am lucky there are great tools out there like MyFitnessPal to help me meet my goals!

I also restarted Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. It is the only workout that has ever helped me actually lose weight and not just maintain where I am at! I won't lie though, it KICKS MY BUTT!

Anyway, I plan to write an entry each day or every few days, so that I will be held accountable to keep up with these changes this month!

My goal is to lose 15 pounds (total, not in the month of June) and then maintain that healthy weight by avoiding fast foods and not eating too much sugar...my weakness!

If you are on MyFitnessPal, please feel free to add me as a friend! I am always looking for more people to network with in the health and fitness world!

Also, if you have any Vegetarian or Vegan recipes, please feel free to post them or a link to them below!
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Day 1.

I thought overall, I did a pretty good job of not eating meat. I forgot that the chia cookies I made had egg in them, so I did slip up there, but it reminded me that I need to buy an egg replacer when I get groceries in the next few days. I had a crazy craving for a baked potato and didn't have any at home. I ended up getting mashed potatoes from Chili's which was probably a bad idea, but I didn't want to start off this thing depriving myself something I felt I wanted so strongly. I had a banana and yogurt for breakfast and organic ramen noodles for lunch. I was surprised to find that they had 1000 mg of sodium! I probably won't be eating those again. I am not much for eating packaged foods, but I really need to get to the grocery store. For Day 2 I plan to make some spaghetti with spaghetti squash.

As far as the workout goes, I was proud of myself for pushing through. It is a hard workout, especially the first few days and I was sweating like crazy and out of breath quite often. I know it will get easier after I get this first week behind me, but it definitely wasn't as difficult as the first time I did the Shred and my body was thankful for that!