Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Semi-wordless Wednesday: Dem arms!

I love it when I see progress!



Baby tris popping! Yeah!  

How?  Yoga, Pilates, and planks.   

How's your progress?


Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Looking back and forward

Howdy, all.  Your friendly neighborhood Sherrie here.



I struggle with my weight.  You know this because I've shared before.  I'll lose, then regain, then plateau for months at a time.  I've done fasts, extreme diets, and taken supplements.  I've eliminated entire food groups just to see if it would work for me.  I've been stuck on meds for one ailment or another and tried working around the weight gain side effects.  I've nearly starved myself following super low calorie plans in hopes of jump-starting my weight loss.

Bah!  I've messed up my metabolism and irritated my already aggravated system.  I've made weight the central issue instead of my overall health and that had to change. The end of extreme is here and now.  Out are all of the crazy things I've tried in the past.  In come common sense and real food.

Real food from plant sources first are foremost.  I won't tell you that you have to eat like I do, but I will tell you what works and doesn't work for me.  I operate better on plants.  Beans, greens, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, onions, garlic, berries, apples, mangoes, avocados, and the rest.  Seeds and nuts are good, too, just not too many.  Olives make me smile and give me a little salty, fatty goodness in a small serving.  And I love my rice, oatmeal, and quinoa.  I just can't have huge plates of those alone.

Am I giving up all the sugar?  Not 100%; at least not yet.  I've cut back a lot over the years and even more over the past few months.  And it feels good. I get more than enough sugar from fruit 98% of the time. That other 1-2% percent? A cookie or something like that.  Or raw vegan cheesecake.  

So, that's my plan in a nutshell.  Not just my plan, but my new and much improved way of life. Are you making any changes?  Tell me about it.  You're not alone.  Not now or ever.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Review: Skinny Jane 7 Day Quick Start

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

You know I like my shakes and smoothies.  They're a quick and easy way to get a nice dose of protein, good carbs, and good fat in a portable format.  I was selected to review a 7 day sample of Skinny Jane's Quick Slim Kit and decided to give it a chance.  It's only a week, right?



For seven days, my day started with Skinny Jane Burn, then a shake, two mini meals, Skinny Jane Cleanse, then dinner.  If the routine seems familiar, it's similar to one many of us followed years ago.



Skinny Jane's Skinny Blend Weight Loss Shake is $39.99 for a 30 shake bag and available in Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, and Banana.  The whey protein shake blended well and had no chalky texture or aftertaste.  Each serving has 100 calories, 3 grams of fiber, ad 12 grams of protein. 


Skinny Burn, also $39.95, is a powerful supplement that combines raspberry ketones, green tea, caffeine, and other ingredients proven to help boost the metabolism ad burn fat.  I didn't feel jittery and had no problem swallowing the capsules.


Skinny Cleanse is $29.95 for a 30 capsules.  The cleanse is effective and might catch you off guard if you're switching from a primarily lower fiber way of eating.  I generally get a minimum of 50-60 grams of fiber daily and still felt it.

As for the meal plan, I wasn't convinced.  Low calorie plans have bitten me in the butt before, but I was willing to try for a few days.  I had to go back to my usual way of eating after the first day.  I was too cranky and hungry to live with. I kept my menu clean and within my usual calorie range.

At the end of seven days, I'd lost 2 pounds.  That isn't too shabby for someone like me who tends to hold onto weight like crazy, especially when fitness is off the table.  If I'd followed the eating plan, I may have lost more.

If you'd like to give Skinny Jane a try, visit SkinnyJane.com and check out the shop.  The 28 day Weight Loss Challenge Kit is $119 and includes the shake, supplements, goal card, t-shirt, and SkinnyMap.  The SkinnyMap is the program guide complete with meal plans, a fast food guide, motivational tools, and more.


Get a chance to win a kit for yourself.  Just leave a comment about your quest for better health.  

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.

  





Thursday, January 2, 2014

Happy 2014!

So, what are your health and fitness goals for the new year?



I'll keep on keeping on, even more determined to fix what ails me.  I'm not afraid to speak up or seek additional resources if I don't get the answers I need.  I spent too many years unsure and floundering.  No more!

I'm also done with worrying about how I'm not keeping up with so-and-so. I only need to compete with myself on my fitness journey.  It's mine.  My progress and results are mine.  It's liberating!  Try it!  Just do you!

So in 2014, expect more inspiration for people on all fitness levels, more meal plans, recipes, and general musings here.

Bye for now.  Time for a little snuggling with the dogs as they freak a little at the fireworks outside.  :sigh:

Sunday, December 22, 2013

I'm in love with green tea!

Oh, Kiss Me Organics, you had me at hello!

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

I love tea, especially herbal blends. But sometimes I need a little more kick, and that's when green tea calls me. It has caffeine, but doesn't give me the shakes or upset my stomach like coffee does when I overindulge. As for cooking with green tea, that's new for me. It was, anyway, until Kiss Me Organics asked if I wanted to try their Organic Matcha Green Tea.  Not only did they send the tea, but they included a cookbook and additional recipes.

Why Matcha Green Tea?  It helped me (and others) come out of a coffee addiction without leaving the detox symptoms of quitting cold turkey.  It has antioxidants, boosts metabolism (which helps with the 2 pm slump and calorie burning),

I've enjoyed my Matcha hot, iced, in smoothies, and in green tea soy (and almond milk) lattes.  Kiss Me Organics sent an e-book filled with recipes for drinks, cocktails, dips, baked goodies, and more.  If course, I had to put my own spin on the ones I tried. I made the Refreshing Matcha Cooler (page 16) with raw instead of steamed broccoli, raw beet greens in place of the steamed spinach, raw carrot instead of juice, a lime wedge instead of juice, and almond milk instead of yogurt. Oh man, it was fab!

If I thought my family would go for it, I'd go all out with some of the baked sweets year round.  Come
St.Patrick's Day, a cake or cupcakes with a Matcha non-dairy icing will grace the table.  I know some Chocolate Rum Matcha Truffles (page 35) will hit the table before then.  Striped Pig Distillery's Rum and a coconut cream should work nicely here.

Get your bag from Kiss Me Organics on Amazon for $25.  Kiss Me Organics offers excellent customer service and follows up to share additional recipes and tips. If you don't like it, return it within 30 days for a full, no questions asked refund.

Cheers!

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.