Week 6 On Nutrisystem

May 27, 2014 by Samantha 2 Comments

For the second week in a row, I neither gained nor lost anything this week. Yes, this is frustrating, since I am following the plan and getting exercise regularly, but I’m hoping for a payout soon. My Nutrisystem counselor says it’s not all in the scale, which is true. I’d still (of course) like to see some weightloss on the scale, but I do feel good and have a lot of energy.

The food is easy to stick with and fast to make, which is a plus for any busy mom or working woman. Who wants to spend all that time futzing with a complicated diet when you can just use the pre-portioned meals?

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With the 3 day weekend we just had, Nutrisytem emailed us all some healthier options for grilling and eating out since they realized many people would be having BBQs this long weekend. Here are some of the options they sent-

Side Dishes
Mixed Green Salad with Fat Free Dressing
Veggies (Celery, Carrots, Radishes, Cucumbers, Cherry Tomatoes) with Low Fat Dip
Low Fat Cheese with Whole Wheat Crackers
Hummus & Whole Wheat Pita Bread Slices
Pasta salad (Whole Wheat) made with Fat Free or Low Fat Dressing
Potato or Macaroni salad made with Low Fat or Fat Free Mayo or Mustard
Baked Potato Chips & Tortilla Chips
Coleslaw (Made with Vinegar)
Shrimp cocktail with Fresh Lemon
Mixed Nuts (Unsalted)
Baked Beans
Corn on the Cob- Boiled or Grilled
Pretzels (Unsalted)

Entrees
NutriSystem Flame Broiled Beef Patty or Chicken Breast
Grilled Veggies (Asparagus, Eggplant, Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, Onions, Zucchini)
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Filed Under: food, health, review Tagged With: diet, health, nutrisystem, weight loss

Week 5 On Nutrisystem

May 20, 2014 by Samantha 2 Comments

I neither gained nor lost anything this week, which is (of course) a little frustrating. I have been exercising daily as well, so perhaps it will show next week? Sigh. Always frustrating when you don’t see the results you’d like, but at least I feel good.

It’s very easy to stick to the food plan on Nutrisystem, since there is a variety of food options and the food is actually pretty good. The fact that it is all pre-packaged makes it that much easier- no thinking required. Supplement your diet with fruit and vegetables, dairy, and foods that are “pre-approved” and it’s that simple.
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Filed Under: health, review Tagged With: diet, nutrisystem, weight loss

My First Month On Nutrisystem

May 12, 2014 by Samantha 8 Comments

Week four on Nutrisystem, and I lost 2 more pounds. It’s not last week’s 6 pounds, but hey, it’s a weight loss, so I will take it! What’s funny is, I actually made it to the gym more then I did the week before and I feel better- but didn’t lose as much weight- go figure. I will take what I can get, and keep on working hard.

I will confess that we had a barbeque on Mother’s Day and I ate that for dinner instead of Nutrisystem, but I was careful with what I ate (I didn’t eat the hamburger buns like a weirdo, no mayo on anything, and things like that) so I did my best to eat better even though it wasn’t a pre-packaged meal. Hey, life isn’t pre-packaged, we all have to learn how to eat well as well as follow the diet- and I think I did both well this week. Now, if only the scale concurred, LOL.

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Filed Under: food, health, review Tagged With: health, nutrisystem, weight loss

Week 3 of Nutrisystem #NSNation

May 4, 2014 by Samantha 4 Comments

This might be my third “official” week on Nutrisystem, but it’s really my first. I sort-of did it my first week- being away for all of it made it hard, and the second week I was on a cruise with no food allowed to be taken on the ship, so. The first week I did lose a pound, the second week I don’t count for anything, but this week? I gave it my full attention.

I made a few mistakes, like with the shakes (I thought you drank one a day, but with the “Lose 5 Fast” system, they want you to do two a day- oops!) but figured this out by calling my Nutrisystem counselor and asking a whole lot of questions. But all in all it was a success- I am down 6 pounds this week, and I am really excited about that.

As far as diet food goes, I really thought the food was going to be terrible. But it’s not- honestly. I’ve had a pretty good variety by now, and none of it has been bad. Most of you have been reading me long enough to know I say it like it is, and it’s fine. Will you still miss all the food that made you fat? Yes, of course! Ha. But this is good- it’s not something I dread having to eat. The shakes are not chalky, and the food (even the shelf stable stuff) is pretty good. I like the shelf stable because it’s portable, and the frozen because it adds a nice variety to the foods offered (and so far the frozen has been a little better then the shelf stable most of the time, taste wise- but it’s still fine either way).
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Filed Under: health, review Tagged With: diet, nutrisystem, wieght loss

Insurance – Get Covered America

March 31, 2014 by Samantha Leave a Comment

With Health Insurance in the news almost every night, why not brush up on your current events and find out what all this talk is about? First up there are a few key points, everyone should have health insurance, enrolling is fast and easy, no one can be denied.

So how does this new health insurance system work? Well first of all check out GetCoveredAmerica.org for details. In four simple steps most your questions will be answered.

Step 1) Calculate – Calculate your Cost. 90% of applicants can received financial assistance and this step helps you figure out this all important question.

Step 2) Questions – Frequently Asked Questions, and answers of course. All those wonderful questions you have sitting at the tip of your tongue and the back of your mind are answered here.
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Filed Under: family, health, home, kids Tagged With: health, insurance, money

The Great Cholesterol Myth Cookbook

March 19, 2014 by Samantha 1 Comment

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About The Great Cholesterol Myth Cookbook:

Publication Date- November 15, 2013

Publisher- Fair Winds Press

For decades, low-fat and low-cholesterol diets have been touted as the way to prevent and reverse heart disease. In the groundbreaking book, The Great Cholesterol Myth, Jonny Bowden and Stephen Sinatra debunked that assertion, arguing that fat—often curtailed on traditional low cholesterol “heart-healthy” diets—is not the enemy and may in fact be part of the solution. Now, in The Great Cholesterol Myth Cookbook, the authors and nutrition expert and whole foods chef Deirdre Rawlings, Ph.D., put their findings into action with a detailed meal plan and 100 delicious and nutritious recipes that will prevent and reverse heart disease and give you back the foods you thought were gone forever.

Brilliant Eats:

Sweet and Spicy Beef or Chicken Stir Fry
Veal Scaloppini Supreme
Energizing Thai Spice Chicken Salad
Luscious Lemon- Pineapple Yogurt Cake
Hearty Hazelnut Rounds

What I Loved About It:

The book had amazing reference material about how a diet low in sugar and inflammatory foods and ingredients that are high in healthy fats, protien, antioxidants and key nutrients is the best course of action to prevent and reverse heart disease. My favorite section was “Foods For A Healthy Heart”. I learned that Sugar, Processed Foods, Trans Fat, and Processed Meats are the enemies when eating for a healthy heart. It gave you a detailed summary of exactly why these types of foods were bad for you and things to look for. Did you know that just because a label boasts “zero trans fat” that doesn’t mean it actually is? If you read the label and it has the words “partially hydrogenated” the product has trans fat and needs to be put back. Labels are your best friend and you need to read them carefully!
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Filed Under: cooking, food, health Tagged With: cookbook, health

5 Natural Supplements to Improve Brain Memory

March 10, 2014 by Samantha Leave a Comment

New health and diet fads have been rising and falling for years. For instance, fish oil popularity has been waxing and waning since the 1970s. The latest research has shown that there are a lot of new and old herbal and chemical components working as brain food which help with mental health, memory and intelligence. Even with continuing research there are still no conclusive results, but that does not stop supplement manufacturers and suppliers from marketing to the general public. Among all the chaff, there are several health food and supplements which clearly show potential.

In recent studies, these five brain food have been consistently recommended by experts:

Creatine. Gym rats and body builders swear by creatine when it comes to building body mass and bulking up. There has been evidence to counter these claims, however, recent research show that creatine helps in improving memory. The same researches have also shown that creatine helps with attention span. These benefits are enough for a second look as it may look help keep brain cells from atrophy. Additionally, if there is a history of alzheimer’s or dementia in the family, creatine supplements might help stave off the onset.

Chocolate. The effects of chocolate on the brain has long been documented. The flavanols in cacao enhances the brain’s cognitive functions. However, for best results it is suggested to have dark chocolate, preferably 90% and unsweetened. This almost pure chocolate is the upper limit of commercially available consumer class chocolate. Although clinical studies show that it has the least potency compared to others on this list, it is also inarguably the only item on this list which can be considered a fun food item.

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Filed Under: health, lifestyle Tagged With: health, Supplements

WIN Chocolate Mint Day Balance Bars

February 13, 2014 by Samantha 27 Comments

Disclosure: The below was provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

Looking for a healthier option to chocolate? Celebrate Chocolate Mint Day on 2/19 with Balance Bars.

Chocolate Mint Day celebrates anything and everything that is chocolate mint flavored. The most common chocolate mint treats are ice cream, candies, and desserts, but it’s great think about healthier options as well. One such option that is portable, good for meals or snacks, and tastes good too is the Mint Cookie Crunch Balance Bar. Everyone in my house likes them, and they are great for travel as well.

“Here’s a refreshing new take on a classic. We’ve added a crunchier cookie base and more mint flavor to this delicious chocolate cookie bar. The chocolate and cool mint come together in a satisfyingly crunchy delight for a perfect chocolate mint Balance Bar.
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Filed Under: food, giveaway, health, review Tagged With: Balance Bar, food, health