Resolution Revolution Goodies and Review!

I realized that I didn't talk about the Resolution Revolution goodies that came in this month!

Mio Fit, a cookie dough Quest Bar, PB2, Skinny Cow snacks, and KT Tape... and a Brady Band that isn't pictured because I swiped it up immediately and put it on!

I've been using Mio for quite some time. I also like the off brands, and the Hawaiian punch and Kool Aid brands. All yummy, all calorie free, all help me get my water down the hatch!

The Cookie Dough Quest Bar was amazing.  I ate it as it, but have heard that warming them makes them even yummier! I liked it so well, that I sent my honey out to GNC in the next town over, to get me one of several different flavors for me to try.  So far I've had the cookie dough, the cinnamon roll, cookies and cream, strawberry cheesecake, and apple pie.  The cinnamon roll is take it or leave it.  I'll probably leave it, after I eat the other one that Darrell got me in my Valentines basket. As I said, the cookie dough is really good, the cookies and cream was yummy (uncooked), and the strawberry cheesecake was very yummy treat for my 3:00 sugar craving. The apple pie though? OMG. I'll take a case. Like, now.

I've eaten the Skinny Cow brand snacks before and these were darn yummy too, just as all the others have been.  Think of this one as a 100 Grand candy bar.  Just like it, only cut up in pieces.  Worth the buy.

I had purchased PB2 the week before this came in and I was totally stoked at how much it actually tastes like real peanut butter.  I've purchased another jar of it and gave this sample to a friend of mine that has been looking for a PB alternative.  I also purchased the chocolate version of the PB2 hoping it tasted more like Nutella, but alas, it does not.  It's still yummy, and I HAD been looking for a way to bump up the chocolate flavor in my protein shake, so this works well.  Overall, the PB2 is a must buy for me again.  I really do like it and it helps me with my protein shakes.

As for the KT tape, I haven't used it yet. I haven't done much to think about using it, so I'm just holding on to it for a while.

And this brings me to the Brady Band! Whoot! I've been eyeballing these for months, and never could ring myself to purchase one.  Thanks to Jess, I've got one now! Please go check this wonderful company out.  Brady Bands was named after an amazing little boy named Brayden who lost his life to brain cancer in 2012. We are passionate about helping to find a cure for childhood cancer, the number one killer of children under 16 in the U.S.. At least 10% of every sale will be donated to childhood cancer research.

February's Resolution Revolution box didn't disappoint and I'm already looking forward to March's. This group has been so beneficial to me the past couple months. I can ask questions, talk about my frustrations and get the great support that any woman on a weight loss mission need! Jess has one an amazing job setting up this group and with the monthly boxes! Go check her blog out and read about her journey as well!

AND!! TODAY is her one year blogging anniversary! Enter her giveaway on her blog for $70 cash! She's lost 70lbs to date, so that's where the number came from. Check it out!

Resolution Revolution Goodies!

Good Tuesday Morning to you all! I'm back from my 3 day weekend! It wasn't exaclty the three day weekend i would have envisioned, but only because I sat at a courthouse most of the morning on Friday. (whomp, whomp, whomp) I was called for Jury Duty, and am basically at their beck and call for two weeks.  I have to call every day at 4:30 so see if I need to attend the following day.  Talk about NO NOTICE! Kinda crappy, but hey.  What can you do?

Anyway, as I said Friday morning in my Follow through Friday linkup, my package for the Resolution Revolution that Jess has started sponsoring showed up on Thursday evening.  I was so excited!

This special little package had so many fun little goodies!  Jess really outdone herself with our first package.

We have everything from the member shirts, to Spark, to Jelly Beans! Yes, I said Jelly Beans! I've decided that I want to review each item in the package that she sent, and let you know what I think, as someone that is actually trying all of these things for the very first time.

First up, the Kashi Trail Mix Granola Bar. 

This bad boy right here was really yummy.  I needed something sweet Friday night after dinner, and so I turned to this. It has fruit, nuts, and oats and stuff and I really enjoyed it. According to their website, heres their description:

"Chewy and naturally tasty, our granola bars satisfy your sweet and wholesome sides. With whole, roasted almonds, succulent, sun-dried fruit, toasted sunflower seeds and a touch of wildflower honey, our Trail Mix granola bars have 4g of fiber* and 6g of protein.

Naturally, you won't find any partially hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, or artificial anything but what you will find in our chewy granola bars is just what you'd expect from Kashi® — pure ingredients, and natural goodness you can see as well as taste"

While I agree that it was tasty, and it does taste natural, it wasn't exactly what I would call chewy.  Yes, I had to chew, no I didn't have to crunch down on it.  It was still very good.  Just enough "chew" to make me not regret opening it, and solid just enough that it felt "healthy" to bite into. 

As for the nutrition info, here is the breakdown:

As someone that is doing the counting calories thing, I would definatly sacrafice 140 calories for this again.  It was yummy, satisfying and well worth it. I even like how they print the "Exchange" rate on the package for Diabetics. Very handy. 

Next up is the Mango Strawberry Spark by Advocare.

(yes, i know this is not the right image.  I coudln't find one for the Mango Strawberry)

While I do not know a ton of stuff about Spark, I do know that it has been around for YEARS... I remember my mother trying to make me drink the stuff when I was around 10, and at that time, they only had an orangy-citrus flavor.  And it. was. terrible. HAHA! I do have to have to admit that this was much more appetizing than it used to be. The directions say to mix it with 8oz of water or juice, and mix well.  I like a little bit of a strong flavor, so I only added 6oz and while I enjoyed the flavor (and so did my 8 year old) it didn't quite have the kick that I was looking for on Friday.  In taste or energy. There was no "grit" when drinking it, nor was there an aftertaste at all. I REALLY liked that. However, at 5:15 in the evening, I found myself lacking energy, and realized that I dozed off. That's really the only, but main, downfall in my opinion. Here is the description from the Advocare website.

"AdvoCare Spark Energy Drink Mix is a unique multi-nutrient system that was developed as a nutritional source of energy and enhanced mental focus.* It's a sugar-free drink mix that has more than 20 vitamins, minerals and nutrients that work synergistically to provide a healthy, balanced and effective source of energy that won't overburden or overstimulate your body like other energy drinks on the market.* This amazing product serves as an all-in-one solution that gives you a quick boost of energy that lasts for hours.* With eight refreshing flavors (Watermelon, Mango Strawberry, Pink Lemonade, Grape, Mandarin Orange, Fruit Punch, Cherry and Citrus), you're sure to find one that's perfect for you. And the best part? Only 45 calories in each serving!"

I currently take a simmular vitamin supplement by Zeal for Life.

Zeal Wellness is a vitamin supplement taken once daily, usually in the morning, and it gives you your daily value of needed vitamins and minerals.  And for the extra "energy" kick that everyone needs, it's got Guarana in it.  A natural supplement like caffine, but much healthier. 

Here's the vitamin breakdown of the two side by side.

Ingredients/Facts	AdvoCare Spark®
Serving Size	One Pouch 8 fl. oz.
Servings per Container	1
Calories	45
Total Fat	0
Saturated Fat	0
Cholesterol	0
Sodium	0
Potassium	0
Total Carbohydrates	11g
Sugars	0
Protein	0
Vitamin A	20%
Vitamin C	300%
Vitamin E	100%
Thiamine	200%
Riboflavin	200%
Niacin	300%
Vitamin B-6	750%
Vitamin B-12	750%
Pantothenic Acid	500%
Zinc	20%
Total Caffeine	120mg

Amount per Serving % Daily Value

Calories 48

Calories from Fat 12

Total Fat: 2g 3% Saturated Fat: 0.33g

Trans Fat: 0.00g

Sodium 1mg 0%

Potassium 109mg 3% 

Total Carbohydrates 8g 3% 

Dietary Fiber 3.5g 14% 

Sugars 3.5g

Protein < 1g 1%

Vitamin A 5,000 iu 100% 

Vitamin C 60 mg 100%

 Iron 15 mcg 1% 

Vitamin D3 1,000 iu 250% 

Vitamin E 30 iu 100% 

Thiamin (B1) 1.5 mg 100%

Riboflavin (B2) 1.7 mg 100%

Niacin 10 mg 50%

Vitamin B6 8 mg 400%

Folic Acid 200 mcg 50%

Vitamin B12 96 mcg 1,600%

Biotin 300 mcg 100%

Pantothenic Acid 10 mg 100%

Phosphorus 54 mg 6%

Magnesium 12 mg 3%

Zinc 1.5 mcg 1%

Manganese 224 mcg 10%

Tocotrienols 700 mcg +

Omega 3 Fatty Acids 60 mg +

Omega 6 Fatty Acids 1,155 mg +

Inositol (IP6) 10.5 mg +

Gamma Oryzanol 17.5 mg +

Phyto Sterols 29.4 mg +

Beta Sitosterol 14.7 mg +

Okay... maybe not side by side, but close enough. I'm not as good at cutting and pasting just yet.  LOL.

Anyway, draw your own conclusions. I'm not pushing anything on ya. But... I'm probably going to stick with my Zeal.  Even though I love that Spark has so many more flavor options.  Zeal only offers Mixed Berry (what I drink) and Grape. (what my son prefers)

I also received my water jug that I won from Valerie last week! Whoot! Talk about some serious drinkage! Lol! Ive started using it this week, and my goal is to be up to one whole jug by this weekend. Wish me luck! 

More on the goodies I received and about the weekend later, but for now... What motivates you to get your water intake each day? What pointers can you give someone who NEEDS to drink it, just isn't motivated, or hates water? 

Winner, Winner!! Weigh in Wednesday

It's Weigh in Wednesday again, and I'm a little stoked about seeing today's number.  I've been eating *mostly* clean and back on my Zeal Wellness every morning.  Plus doing my protein shakes in the mornings.I also found this Weigh in Wednesday linkup! Go Check it out!

I signed up for the Jillian in January challenge with the ladies over at the other linkup, but... it's not going so well... Jillian's Yoga Meltdown... burn... whatever its called, KICKED MY ASS! I had terrible pains in my left ass for three days (yes, I still hurt today) and I decided Jillian wasn't for me.  Not yet.  I've got to get back to the agility and stamina to keep up with her perfect ass.

So yeah, I'm a quitter.  I'll admit it. But I've picked my old yoga video back up and I'm gonna start there.

Awesome news for ya from yesterday... I WON SOMETHING! Whoot!

I won the awesome #topsecretjug from Valerie over at Fab Chick Gets Fit...

 

You must read her story! She's hilarious, shes a cutiepatootie and she gave me free stuff! She's definitely one of my inspirations for my health as she started her weight loss journey this time last year, and she is ROCKING it! Thanks again Valerie!

I'm a huge Instagram addict... seriously.  And since I've made my account public (so that the lady doing the yoga challenge in October could see my posts) I've gotten tons of followers... It's crazy! And I'm actually really stoked about it! LOL Now... if all those followers would actually follow my blog.. I'd be even better off! HA!

I'm also pretty excited about our Resolution Revolution packages coming in! Jess stuck them in the mail yesterday, so mine should be here Saturday-ish? Our mail people run EXTREMELY slow around here. If you're interested in the Resolution Revolution she's started, check out her blog, and leave her your email... I know she's taking a wait list for February now!


So here it is, ladies and gents (HA! Like there were any!) Here's today's lucky number.... drum roll please.................................

Okay, so its not as as good as it could have been if I would have stuck with Jillian. But its down. Hopefully being more active before the next weigh in will help!

Thinking about posting some recipes an Aunt sent me last week.  They're crock pot (so not tons of work) and she thinks they could be frozen before crock potted, so they should be pretty handy for this cold weather. It'd be neat to have a couple crock pot meals ready to pop in once or twice a week...

what are your thoughts on me posting recipes??

Weigh In Wednesday- 2014!!

It's that time of week again, and while I know it's actually Thursday, I'm weighing in.

*Dang Holidays*

Today starts a new year for me and I'm ready to make a change for the good.  Here's what I'm doing:

I've started back on my Zeal for Life regiment starting today. Wild Berry Zeal Wellness first thing of a morning for my vitamins and energy (better than coffee!) Then a protein shake made of the Zeal Vanilla Protein Powder, a 1/4 cup frozen blueberries, 1/4 frozen strawberries, 1/2 banana, 1/2 cup unsweetened Almond Milk and some ice. YUMMY! This concoction )along with the morning Wellness drink) give me about 330 calories to start the day.

They also have a supplement called "Burn". It says it a "blend of thermogenic fat burners, a natural carb blocker and appetite suppressant. Taken before each meal these powerful ingredients will accelerate your metabolism to burn more calories, reduce your hunger and block the absorption of the carbohydrates that you do eat... " Now, I'm not condoning the use of "supplements" but the rest of the program is very healthy... Wellness is JUST vitamins and minerals that you need, Protein Powder is all natural and stuff that everyone is doing to assist in their healthy lifestyles.  I personally love the program and am excited to get back on it.

I've also signed up for the Resolution Revolution with Jess over at The Girl Who Thought Too Much.

It's a great group of ladies that all want to be healthier for themselves and have an awesome list of goals.  We've got a Facebook group to ask questions, set goals and to make ourselves accountable. She's sending us member shirts, some samples and some great info throughout the month of January. We've already gotten our first motivation email with workouts and recipes, and she's a great inspiration through her own testimony.  You can check out her weight loss journey HERE.

I'm also doing the Jillian Michaels DVD Challenge with several wonderful blogging/IG ladies.  Its 30 days of Jillian (Eek!) on IG and a prize of $150.00 is up for grabs to the favorite loser! It starts today and runs through Feb 2nd and I'm determined to at least DO the challenge.  Winning would be a plus, but its about principal.  Check out the blogs or IG for Holly, Jennifer, Kim, or Melanie for more info if you're interested. Workouts start tonight, and I've purchased the 30 Day Shred and her Yoga Video to help me. I'll also probably do some of my other Yoga video as well, mostly because I love yoga and I figure I'll hate Jillian's yoga. lol My user name on IG is NickoleM123 if you wanna be friends and do the challenge together... Come keep up with me!

I did a shit ton of food prep for the week last night.  Baked Chicken, steamed green beans, steamed carrots, steamed broccoli, and brown rice.

10 meals, all around 175-250 calories. I'm putting my daily caloric intake around 1500, as recommended by my LoseIt App that I have on my phone. I love this app for keeping up with everything from food to exercise. NickoleM123 is my user name on there... Friend me! You input your weight, goal weight, height and age and it calculates your calories based on how you want to lose the weight.  2# per week being the maximum, because that is a healthy rate to lose it. I love looking into my fridge and seeing these meals all tucked away. I also boiled some eggs, and got fresh veggies cleaned and cut for snacks as well.

I'm telling y'all it's a new year and a new me. :) Here's to 2014 and everyone achieving their goals!

New Years, New Me

Yes, I know.  It gets said every year. By almost every one. But this year, it's going to be true for me.
This year, I am determined to be a better me.  A better mommy.  A better girlfriend. A healthier me.
I'm starting the year with goals, but figuring out those goals is one of the hardest things I've done.  Do I set time lines with those goals, or just a general "by the end of the year"? What is considered a "Goal?" Is it worth it to put down?
Here are some of the things I would like to accomplish this next year: (in no specific order)

Be healthy:

I already quit smoking about 6 weeks ago, so I want to include continuing to be smoke free.
Reach a goal weight of 195 by my birthday, July 26. That's about 30 pounds in 7 months.
Reach a Goal weight of 175 by the end of the year.  That's 50! pounds in twelve months. A pound a week...
Meal Plan & Food Prep (because failure to plan, is a plan to fail)
Eat Clean 5 Times a week.  No everyday, but most.
Do Yoga 5 times a week.  I don't care what day it is, or how many times I do it a day, I just want to do it.

Improve my every day life:

Sit to eat my meals. Dinner at least. You seriously have no idea how much more relaxing it is to SIT while eating.
Write down my good things.  Things happen every day that you think you'll remember. I don't.  I have a terrible memory! I want to write them, so that I can reflect on them, when I need a reminder.
Send Birthday Cards.  I know that may sound petty, but I have a friend who ALWAYS sends me a card.  For Mothers day, for Christmas, for my Birthday. I never send cards, but know I should.
Count to 10... I have a TERRIBLE habit of flying off the handle.  Of not having patience. I need to learn patience, and counting to 10 will help.

Long Term Changes:

Pay off my credit cards... cause, uh, duh.
Read 12 books this year.  That's one a month, and I hate to read.  Surely, I can get 12 in this year. Right? Suggestions?
HUNT with my bow.  I always hunt, but I normally use a gun.  My honey bought me a bow last year and I haven't gotten to hunt with it yet. Let alone shoot it this year.  I WILL hunt with it next deer season.


I've currently signed up for the Resolution Revolution with Jess over here...

Hopefully she's got some good stuff worked out for us and we'll get our fitness on after the first! It looks like it's going to be full of advice, support and accountability.  Accountability is a big thing for me.  If I don't feel like someone is paying attention, neither am I! lol  I can't wait for this to get going and to get my member shirt in the mail! Thanks so much for the group Jess! I'm looking forward to starting my year off right.

I've also been checking out the post here with Holly. For the month of January, her friends Melanie, Jenn, Kimmy, and her are hosting a Jillian Michael's challenge for Instagram only. To help them kick off the new year and the beer-bloat, they are doing the "Jillian in January Challenge." All you have to do to join is pick your favorite Jillian DVD. She likes her DVD's because they are only about $9 a Target and they are short enough to do before/after work and actually provide results. You can check out her Shred results HERE.

Thinking about it, but it would mean that I would have to invest in a Jillian DVD, and I've heard she's pretty hard core... awe Hell... It's worth it.  Lets throw this in the mix for 30 days and see just how awesome that 30 day Shred really is.  Looks like Target has it on sale right now for $6.99! WHOOT! (I have Amazon Prime, so I ordered from there to save on shipping!)

What are your goals and how do you plan on achieving them? How do you set your goals?

Hope everyone has a safe and happy new year! I'll be taking my friend Suzan out for her birthday with a great group of ladies, then heading back home to ring in the new year with my Honey for the first time in 3 years.  I can't wait!

Weigh in Wednesday & Resolution Revolution!

It's Wednesday, once again.  And while I'm not really doing anything to help my current situation right now, I'm still trying to make sure I get a weigh in every Wednesday. So, here goes for today..

Next week I'll weight in on Tuesday as Wednesday will be full of my children and opening presents and running here and there... I'll probably post a weigh in again on Thursday, just to show how big of a difference a holiday can make!

I'm also looking into hooking up with Jessi over at The Girl Who Thought Too Much for a Resolution  Revolution!

For $30, she will send you a kick ass Tshirt, 2 Yummy fitness treats (some of her favorites), 2 packs of sports beans, a sample pack of Spark by Advocare. You will also receive weekly motivational emails throughout January that include, motivational quotes, tips, links to workouts, recipes, ect. Access to a Facebook Group where you can connect with her and the other wonderful woman on a path for resolutions!

Hell yeah! I'm in.  Maybe if I invest the $30.00 in myself, I'll actually hold myself accountable for it? We've got until tonight at 6pm (CST) to get in on this. I can't wait! Here's a  link to her post if anyone that reads this wants to hook up too. I'm willing to make the change for myself. Are you?