MealEnders Review and Giveaway

MealEnders Signaling Lozenges are a first-of-its-kind weight management tool designed to curb overeating and teach portion control by using a combination of behavioral psychology and sensory science.  Free of stimulants or other harmful diet ingredients, MealEnders catalyze behavioral change by retraining the mind to stop eating with the eyes.

MealEnders consist of two components:  a sweet, outer reward layer and a cooling/tingling inner core.  the outer layer provides a measured dose of “dessert” associated with the end of a meal, while the inner core engages the trigeminal nerve (the nerve that senses taste) with long-lasting cooling/tingling sensations that cleanse the palate.

Sucking on a lozenge when you know you’ve consumed enough–but can’t stop–keeps your mouth and mind occupied during the 20-minute overeating zone, giving your body’s natural satiety process time to catch up.  MealEnders are and easy, safe and sustainable way to curb your appetite.

Each Signaling Lozenge contains only 2 grams of sugar and 15 calories.

Above is all the information from the MealEnders company.  My thoughts on the Signalizing Lozenges?  I think it’s a genius idea.  Anything that distracts me from my sweet cravings is pretty awesome in my mind.  The sweet outer layer isn’t bad.  It tastes like you are chewing on a piece of chocolate or candy.  The inner layer, however, is something to get used to.  It sort of numbs your taste buds and leaves a long lasting aftertaste on your tongue.  It certainly makes you not want to eat anything afterwards.  Do they work?  I think it just depends on the person.  It helps distract me for sure.  At least I’m getting something sweet in my mouth when a craving hits.  I’m pretty excited to continue using these lozenges to see if I can get my sweet cravings and impulse eating under control.

So does this sound like something you would want to try?  If so, enter my giveaway below.  MealEnders has given me the opportunity to give one lucky person the chance to win 4 packages of the Signalizing Lozenges–one of each of the following flavors:  Cinnamon, Mocha, Chocolate Mint and Citrus.  The giveaway ends on December 14, so hurry!  US only.  One prize per person.

Click here to enter the MealEnders Giveaway

If you decide you just can’t wait and you want to purchase the Signalizing Lozenges right away, visit the MealEnders page and enter the code FitHolidays20 to save 20% on your order!

Nektar Naturals Honey Crystals Review and Giveaway

Nektar Naturals wants to share its new Nektar Honey Crystals in an easy-pour bottle with you.  Nektar Honey Crystals are all-natural granulated honey with cane sugar.  It’s the goodness of traditional honey with no sticky mess.  They are also Non-GMO, naturally gluten-free, AND are available in Walmart locations across the US.  Find Nektar Honey Crystals Near You!

I was super excited when I received my Nektar Honey Crystals in the mail.  The first thing I added them to was my tea.  I’m not a huge fan of the taste of plain tea, but I know it’s healthy.  Growing up, my Czech mother actually made me drink tea twice a day, and she always added honey and lemon.  Honey is just so messy, so I’ve really been avoiding it altogether.

I  seriously love the fact that Nektar Honey Crystals takes the mess out of honey by using granulated honey.  The only thing I don’t like is the fact that they also use cane sugar.  I would have preferred just granulated honey.  It tastes just like honey, though, so it was the perfect addition to my tea. And one teaspoon only added 12 calories.  I seriously can’t wait to get creative and add it to some of my other recipes!

So not only did Nektar Naturals send me some Honey Crystals to try, but they are also allowing me to do a giveaway for you guys!  Enter below for a chance to win your very own bottle of Nektar Honey Crystals!  The giveaway is for US residents only, and there is only one prize per person.  So if you enter on another site and win, please let me know so I can pick a new winner.  Giveaway ends on December 9, 2015.  Good luck!!

Nektar Naturals Giveaway

Mighty Nut Chocolate PB Super Green Smoothie Recipe and Giveaway!!

As a Sweat Pink Ambassador, I came upon the opportunity to be chosen to try out some Mighty Nut Powdered Peanut Butter. Peanut Butter & Co just launched Mighty Nut, their new powdered peanut butter! Each batch of Mighty Nut is created from quality USA grown peanuts. The peanuts are roasted, then pressed, to remove most of the fat.  What remains is protein, fiber and delicious peanut buttery taste.  Mighty Nut powdered peanut butter can be rehydrated and used as a spread or dip, or as an ingredient in baking, cooking or smoothies and it is available in four delightful varieties:  Original, Vanilla, Chocolate, and Flax & Chia.

Mighty Nut sent me two bottles last week, one chocolate and one original, and let me tell you, these taste amazing!  Not only that, but each scoop adds 5 grams of protein to my recipes.  And since I am a huge fan of smoothies, I decided to create my own Chocolate Peanut Butter Super Green Smoothie with the chocolate flavor (obvi).

Chocolate Peanut Butter Super Green Smoothie

1 scoop Chocolate Mighty Nut Powdered Peanut Butter

1 handful spinach

1/2 cup frozen strawberries (if you use fresh strawberries, add a few cubes of ice to the mix)

1 frozen banana

1/4 avocado

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

Mix together all ingredients in a high-powered blender, such as the Nutribullet, and blend for one minute.  Enjoy!

Oh and guess what??  Mighty Nut has given me the awesome privilege of being able to give away one bottle of Mighty Nut Powdered Peanut Butter (in whatever flavor you choose).  You will have the opportunity to enter the giveaway by clicking the link (in pink) below. Giveaway ends on October 27, 2015.

Giveaway entry methods: 

• Follow @GoMightyNut on Twitter
• Follow @GoMightyNut on Instagram
• Tweet about the giveaway. Sample tweet: I would LOVE to create recipes with @GoMightyNut! #EatMighty @fitapproach #sweatpink mightynut.com
• Pin a picture from MightyNut.com

Giveaway restrictions:

• U.S. only
• One prize per person. If you win this giveaway, and have already won another prize from Mighty Nut through another blog, please disclose that you have already won so we can choose another winner.

Mighty Nut Powdered Peanut Butter Giveaway
https://js.gleam.io/e.js

Recipe: Spicy Vegetable Chili

So fall is a little over two weeks away.  It’s definitely my favorite season.  I love the smell in the air, the cooler weather, pumpkin spice EVERYTHING, and the leaves changing colors.  It also means we are that much closer to CHRISTMAS!! (Yeah, I’m one of those.)

Another reason I love fall is because it is the perfect weather for soups and stews!  Today’s recipe is the Spicy Vegetarian Chili from the Better Homes and Gardens Summer 2015 Slow Cooker Magazine.  I made a few modifications based on what I had on hand, and I have made a note of my modifications next to each ingredient.  My chili is in the slow cooker right now, and I already stole a taste.  It’s AMAZING!

Spicy Vegetable Chili

Prep time: 30 minutes

2 28oz cans diced tomatoes, undrained (I used one can of diced and one can of stewed tomatoes)

2 15oz cans dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained (I used one can of dark red kidneys and one can of black beans)

2 15oz cans pinto beans, rinsed and drained

2 cups chopped onions (I used a red onion)

1 15oz can whole kernel corn, drained

1.5 cups chopped green sweet peppers

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup water

1 6oz can tomato paste

2Tbs chili powder

8 cloves of garlic, minced (I used 7)

1Tbs Worcestershire sauce

1tsp ground cumin

1tsp dried oregano

1tsp bottled hot pepper sauce (I used Buffalo Tabasco sauce)

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (I left this out)

Sour cream (optional)

In a 6-7 quart slow cooker, stir together all ingredients except sour cream.  Cover and cook on low for 9-10 hours or on high for 4 1/2-5 hours.  If desired, top with sour cream.

Makes 10 servings

Per serving:  244 calories, 2g fat, 0mg chol., 916 mg sodium, 49g carb, 12 g fiber, 13 g pro

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Hope you guys enjoy this one!! It’s a keeper.

Review: Karena+Katrina Beach Waves Sea Salt Texture Spray & Beach Clay Sea Algae Facial Masque

Karena+Katrina Beach Waves Sea Salt Texture Spray

 

So last week, I thought I ordered both the K+K texture spray and the masque, but instead I accidentally ordered two of the texture sprays.  I was originally going to return the second bottle, but I loved it so much that I decided to keep both and order the masque again.  When I first used the Beach Waves Texture Spray, I wasn’t too impressed with the smell.  I mean, it smells good, but it smells like every other beachy texture spray out there.  I sprayed it onto my hair, and immediately, it brought out some subtle waves. I also loved that it did not dry sticky or stiff.  As a matter of fact, when it dried, my hair was so soft and shiny, I couldn’t believe it.  It felt amazing, and it made my hair look amazing.  Two thumbs up on this one, girls.

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K+K Beach Clay Sea Algae Facial Treatment/Mermaid Masque

As for the masque. Tried it.  Loved it. The only thing I didn’t like, again, was the smell.  But this one doesn’t even have a good smell.  It just smells like my son’s diaper rash cream.  Other than that, it is great.  I don’t often use products on my face because it is sensitive, and I have both oily and dry skin, and most treatments either dry my face out like crazy or make me super greasy.  So, anyway, when I put on the masque, I immediately felt a cool sensation.  Then warmth.  I left the masque on for about 18 minutes.  The clay wasn’t totally hard, and it was fairly easy to rinse off with a wet washcloth. (Although the jury is still out about if it will come out of the washcloth when I do laundry.  I couldn’t get some of the clay out of the washcloth with just rinsing.)  After I dried my face, it was so soft!  My skin tone was amazing.  No redness.  No dryness.  Just Wow.  I am a fan.  Two thumbs up again.  So I suggest you buy it.  Now. =)

 http://www.shoptoneitup.com

And no, I’m not getting anything for doing this review.  I just love pretty much everything K+K and Tone It Up.  Amazing company, amazing quality, and I want to support these girls as much as I can. 

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The Imperfect Housewive

It’s funny to me that people strive for perfection even though perfection doesn’t exist.  Someone who wants to get in shape desires the perfect body.  Stay at home moms want to be the perfect mother and have a perfectly kept house.  But in reality, those things aren’t possible.  Because when we eventually get to the point that we think is perfect, there will be something else that we find wrong.

In my mind, imperfection, whether is physical or mental, adds character.  Your flaws tell your personal story and they show that you have lived life.  Some flaws you can work to change (there are a number of mental flaws I could definitely work on), and others are there forever.

When it comes to physical flaws, I have so many.  Most of them I can’t change.  My most recent include stretch marks on my legs and back from pregnancy, a six inch scar on my pelvis from my C-section, and loose skin on my tummy.  I could easily choose to despise these flaws, but instead I have chosen to embrace them because they are a symbol of the child that I was able to carry in my belly.  I was lucky and blessed enough to carry the most amazing person in my world.  And I am so grateful for that.

As a stay-at-home mom and housewife, I strive to be the best I can be.  Truthfully, I don’t always do the right thing though, and I have a hard time keeping up!  As for keeping the house clean, that is a never-ending process.  Before I got to quit my job to stay at home with my son, I imagined playing with the baby all day, cooking dinner every night, and having the house spotless.  Realistically, do I have time for all that?  Absolutely not.  Some days I’m lucky to get the dishes done.  And baby bottles?  Holy moly, Dr. Brown is the devil with all those bits and pieces.  The house is never completely clean.  When one room is clean, another is a complete disaster.  And dinner?  I try to cook every other night, but sometimes I just don’t feel like it.  (“Honey, it’s PB&J for you tonight.”)

Anyway, despite all of our imperfections, it is important that we work toward being better and taking care of ourselves as well as others.

So in honor of taking care of yourself, I challenge you to workout AT LEAST 15 minutes today, eat AT LEAST 3 servings of veggies, and clean part of the house for 15 minutes.

Still a Work in Progress

Last year, I gave birth to the most amazing baby boy in the world. I told myself I would eat healthy and exercise during my pregnancy, but instead, I gained 50lbs. By the time I gave birth, I was 204lbs. In the first few weeks after having my C-section, I immediately lost 20lbs. Eight weeks after giving birth, my doctor OKed me to start working out. I was so disgusted at how I let myself go, so I decided I needed to give it my all. To be honest, I started out thinking I wasn’t going to lose any of the weight.

In July, I began Shaun T’s Focus T25 DVDs and lost 10lbs in 60 days. After T25, I took a month off from working out because quite honestly, I lost the fire and I was discouraged by the 10lbs.  In October, my dad had open-heart surgery, and after the surgery, he, my mom, and I all decided we were going to start eating right and exercising again.  I started Insanity and lost another 20 lbs in the next 60 days.  I couldn’t believe it.  I did it.  But I’m still a work in progress.  I have a feeling I always will be.

Now that I have lost the 50 lbs I gained during pregnancy, my next goal is to lose another 10-15lbs and tone my whole body with p90x3. I WILL reach this goal by the end of March 2014.

I have a pit in my stomach right now as I’m contemplating on whether or not I’m really going to publish my before and after photos. But here goes nothing……..

PS–My husband hasn’t even seen these pictures!

 

It is now February 18, 2014, and I am adding an updated before and after shot.  I am now down to 147, and have lost a total of 57 lbs since giving birth!  At the beginning of the year, I started P90X3, and currently, I am doing both P90X3 and the 21 Day Fix.  Stay tuned for more updates.  I WILL reach my goal by the end of March!