Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life (Book Review)

Disclosures at end of post.

If you've been reading here for any length of time, you know that learning to be mindful about my actions (and inaction) played a large role in my successful weight loss and continues to work well for me with managing my weight. It's an ongoing project and I still have work to do. While I continue to build a better habit of mindfulness of what I'm doing, I also want to learn more about being mindful of what I'm feeling.

Knowing that, you can imagine my delight when I was asked to review Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life,co-authored by Zen Buddhist Master Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr. Lilian Cheung, a Harvard nutritionist.

Savor is a remarkable book that offers much more than the eat-less-move-more advice for dropping a few pounds. Combining ancient Buddhist wisdom and the modern science of nutrition, the authors say that, while eating healthy and increasing movement are important, how we eat, move, and think is every bit as critical if we are to change our behaviors and achieve full success. It's an approach that might hold a few keys for those like me who "woke up fat one day" and then couldn't figure out how to fix it.

There are three primary segments to Savor:
- A Buddhist Perspective on Weight Control
- Mindful Action Plans
- Individual and Collective Effort

These are followed by a wonderful resource (print and online) section as well as further discussions of mindfulness principles.

While I enjoyed Savor in its entirety, I lovedlovedloved the first section and believe it will help me improve my own mindfulness practices. The parables and stories used to demonstrate the principles being discussed were especially helpful, and I really appreciated that the "tone" throughout this section was kind and encouraging.

The section on developing mindful eating, moving, and living plans was also helpful. It contains many suggestions on dietary intake (some I agree with, some I don't), as well as helpful counteractions to some of the roadblocks we put in our way. I do appreciate that while the authors recommend a plant-based diet only (citing health and environmental reasons), they also include helpful suggestions for readers who do eat meat.

The final section of Savor discusses individual and collective efforts, the interconnections of our behaviors with those of the world around us, and ways we can work to improve our communities and our world. Within it are fascinating examples of how seemingly small actions by various individuals have had profound effects on communities.

If you're wanting to explore how living more mindfully might enrich your life, I highly recommend you check out Savor. It supported some of the things I've already learned and introduced a whole host of new ideas and directions to follow. You just might find some answers, too!

Intrigued but still undecided? Check out what these bloggers thought about the book.

Disclosures:
- I was invited to participate in this book tour by the kind folks at TLC Book Tours, who provided a complimentary copy of the book. No other compensation was requested, offered, or received.
- Book link is through my Amazon affiliate account.

A Life Worth Breathing (Book Rec)

Happy Easter to those who observe and celebrate it!

I'm making a guest appearance on AFG today (as opposed to just loitering there like I usually do), but I wanted to take a moment to share a delightful new find with you.

I had the great good fortune recently to be asked to read and review Max Strom's new book, A Life Worth Breathing: A Yoga Master's Handbook of Strength, Grace, and Healing, which has just been released.

The ultimate goal of this book, in the author's words, is "to live a life you have always known you could live, a life with meaning, a life full of love, a life worth breathing."  *contented sigh* Doesn't that just sound heavenly?

Using a nicely-woven series of stories and exercises (some physical, some not), Max Strom guides the reader through explorations of the what he calls the Three Pillars of Transformation: the body, the mind, and the soul. An accomplished yoga master, Strom cautions that physical movement alone is not enough to live a life of  authenticity, we must heal our internal selves as well. And we begin that by focusing on the breath and what it tells us about ourselves and what it can do to help us heal.

If you're looking for change, for better health, stillness, and/or contentment, you might just find some answers in this book. I suspect I'll be finding answers to it for years to come. It's that kind of book.

I could go on for hours (and already have to a couple of folks) about this book, but in a weirdly ironic twist, I have a massive head cold/allergy thing going on and my head feels like an overstuffed watermelon. Must get it cleared so that I can get back to proper breathing and life transforming.

Product Review: Yoga Tune Up Therapy Balls

The folks at Yoga Tune Up were kind enough to send me a Yoga Tune Up Ball Kit for a look-see. Just in the nick of time, too, considering that I spent ALL of Sunday afternoon painting the ceilings of three rooms. Ouch! Talk about sore shoulders and neck!

The kit contains an Audio CD Program, 2 Therapy Balls w/Travel Tote, and Foldout Placement Guide. The balls are made of a "high grip" rubber material that's softer than a tennis ball (though similarly sized) but firmer than a stress ball. Crystal clear? That's as close as I can get.

The Foldout Placement Guide and the audio program guide, narrated by Gaiam expert contributor and Yoga Tune Up creator, Jill Miller, take the user through a series of movements designed to work out the kinks and knots--like a body massage. I have to say that the shoulder and neck movements were very effective! There are also some leg/foot exercises that feel really, really good. I didn't do as well with the lower back maneuvers, which leads me to my one complaint about the product.

The placement guide fits inside the CD case and contains photos for 12 tracks. This means that the photos are teeny-tiny. That, coupled with the audio-only soundtrack, meant I had to stop several times to scrutinize the guide and/or back up the soundtrack to get the ball placements right. This was my first time using the program, though, so maybe it gets easier over time. What would have worked better for me would have been to have the photos display on-screen during the soundtrack. Not only would they be larger, they could demonstrate more clearly the proper timing of some of the movements.

But that's my only quibble. Wait, no it's not. The kit also lacks Kenny, my massage therapist, who rubs warm almond oil into my back and places warm towels on it after the massage. I dunno, maybe that would've driven the cost up too much? (The kit sells for $19.95 on the website. Kenny charges $35 for a half hour massage.)

Even Kenny-less, the therapy balls worked really well on loosening up my aching shoulders. I'm looking forward to trying this program again. If I never master the lower body work, the effect on my shoulders was awesome! And I'm certain that as the warmer weather moves in and my walks are longer, I'll really appreciate the foot massage. I can also see how these might be useful for tossing into the car to ease the aches of a long road trip.

All things considered, I give the Yoga Therapy Balls two thumbs up, but with a suggestion for improving the guide. Or adding a Kenny.


(Disclosure: Yoga Tune Up provided the kit for evaluation. No other payment was requested or received.)

Winner, Dick's Sporting Goods Gift Card

Hearty congratulations to Mary of The Inner Weigh, who has won the Dick's Sporting Goods Gift Card!

Congratulations, Mary!  Shoot your mailing info to me via email (ttdinbox at gmail dot com) and I'll get it to the kindly PR folks from DSG.

Thanks to those who played along, and thanks to those who sent a few votes in for The Starting Line-up. That was fun.

Dick's Sporting Goods Needs Me! (w/Giveaway Opp)

Disclosure stuff at the bottom of the post

I'm not much on competition. Against other people, that is. I compete against myself all the time. (That way, I always win! :)) But I'm fortunate enough to have been asked by Dick's Sporting Goods to participate in a little online competition to be part of their Starting Line-up. As part of the Starting Line-up, I would have:

• A chance to try out and preview new products
• A spot on an online panel of experts for one season (for approximately 3 months)
• Access to exclusive online surveys
• A chance to sound off on all things sports

Wouldn't that be cool?

Yes, you say, But what's in it for me?

Well, besides knowing someone newly famous for her inclusion in the Starting Line-up, you have the opportunity to win a $50 Dick's Sporting Goods gift card! (And you don't have to be on Twitter to enter!)

Oh, I have your attention now, do I? Good! That was my intention. I'll get to the contest details in a second, but first...

IF you'd like to support me in my bid to win a spot on Dick's Sporting Goods Starting Line-up, here's what you can do:

• Follow http://twitter.com/dickssportcmo.
• Vote for yourself (or someone else, like @tippytoediet) by telling @dickssportcmo who should be on the "Starting Lineup" and why. Sample Tweet: “@dickssportcmo my vote is for @TwitterID because...” Again not to belabor the point, but I'm @tippytoediet on Twitter. :)
• Recruit others to do the same.
• You can only vote for the same person once per day, but you can vote for multiple people in the same day.

*Make sure you're following @dickssportcmo or your vote won't count!

And that's that! I appreciate your consideration, but please know that you do NOT have to vote for me to enter the contest. This is all in fun.

To enter the contest and possibly win a $50 gift card (good in stores OR ONLINE), all you have to do is hop over to Dick's Sporting Goods and do some Windows-shopping (unless you're Linux or Mac, of course). Then come back and leave a comment sharing what YOU would buy from them with your gift card! (I'd buy this: The Wave by The Firm.)


I'll leave the contest open until Sunday night (03/14/10) at 9:00 p.m. Central Time. Contest is open to US residents only. (Sorry, int'l peeps!)


I hope you'll enter the contest, and if you're on twitter, I hope you'll follow @dickssportcmo and let them know how badly they NEED @tippytoediet in their Starting Line-up!  Oh, and feel free to share with your friends! Thanks and Good luck!

Disclosure: The only compensation for this post is the $50 gift card, which I have opted to use as a giveaway opportunity, despite the fact that it breaks my widdle heart to do so since I shop at DSG fairly regularly (Yaay! Asics socks and Life is Good t-shirts!)  I am receiving no other compensation, except perhaps some good Karma points.

Book Rec: The Joy Diet by Martha Beck

I fell in love with The Joy Diet: 10 Daily Practices for a Happier Life in the introduction. (I love when that happens.)

The Joy Diet isn't about eating or exercising, despite the title. Author Martha Beck (if you haven't read her other books, you may know her from Oprah) uses the term "diet" in reference to a way of living, how we think and behave. About dieting, she says:

"[If] you're looking for ways to shed that potbelly or firm your buttocks, I'm afraid you'll have to look elsewhere. As far as I'm concerned, your belly and buttocks are absolutely magnificent right now, not that I want you to send me photographs."

Who can not love an author who thinks her (the reader's) butt and belly look magnificent? Maybe she was just sucking up, I don't know, but she had my attention. A few paragraphs later, she had my complete and eternal adoration:

"No matter what complex thing you're learning, from playing the piano to solving calculus equations, the trick is to break the necessary actions down into trivial-seeming behaviors, then practice these behaviors until you can do each one half-asleep, while watching television with one eye and your children with the other."

At the time I first read this book, which was early last year, I had just spent two of the best years of my life (so far!) realizing and learning to practice incremental changes. It's the "Tippy Toe" part of The Tippy Toe Diet, and several of the ten behaviors described are ones I had already adopted for myself. What this book did for me was to remind me of the importance of each and every one, and in several cases, to enlighten me as to why exactly they had worked. It also made me wish I had known about this book when it was first published in 2003.

The Joy Diet's ten "menu items", as listed in the book's jacket:

• Nothing: Do nothing for fifteen minutes a day. Stop mindlessly chasing goals and figure out which goals are worth going after.
• Truth: Create a moment of truth to help you unmask what you’re hiding—from others and from yourself.
• Desire: Identify, articulate, and explore at least one of your heart’s desires—and learn how to let yourself want what you want.
• Creativity: Learn six new ways to develop at least one new idea to help you obtain your heart’s desire.
• Risk: Take one baby step toward reaching your goal. The only rule is it has to scare the pants off you.
• Treats: Give yourself a treat for every risk you take and two treats just because you’re you. No exceptions. No excuses.
• Play: Take a moment to remember your real life’s work and differentiate it from the games you play to achieve it. Then play wholeheartedly.
• Laughter: Laugh at least thirty times a day. Props encouraged.
• Connection: Use your Joy Diet skills to interact with someone who matters to you.
• Feasting: Enjoy at least three square feasts a day, with or without food

It's all fairly simple and fundamental advice, presented in Martha Beck's funny and uniquely down-to-earth (and sometimes appropriately snarky!) way. The Joy Diet may not be a "diet book" (it's a life book), and I hadn't read the book during my weight loss phase, almost every behavior discussed is an area I addressed in order to get to a 100-pound loss. Now that I've read the book, I'm using all of these behaviors as I try to transition to the world of the self-employed. I don't know how much progress I'm making, but I'm enjoying the experience immensely, and that's the only way to fly!

Do you recognize any of these behaviors among those you've incorporated into your healthier way of living? See any that intrigue you? Motivate you?

The link below takes you to my Amazon store, if you're so inclined (and thank you if you are), but I suspect you can find this book at most bookstores or even your local libary. Whatever your choice, I do hope you'll find it somewhere and enjoy it as much as I did.

Food Fight! - Yogurt Parfaits

At least once a month, I treat myself to a McDonald's Yogurt Parfait. Either I'm caught out running errands and don't have a snack in my glove box, or I'm traveling and the hotel breakfast bar is a dietary disaster, or maybe I'm just in the mood for an indulgent-but-not-nutrition-wrecking snack. Whatever the reason, the drive-thru parfait has been an acceptable, if limited, alternative on more than one occasion.

So imagine my delight when I noticed this sign while ordering a side salad at my other drive-thru option, Chick-fil-A:

My heart leapt with joy!  This had to be a Very Good Thing! After all, this is Chick-fil-A, home of the Grilled Chicken Salad with carefully measured (and tiny) amounts of cheese and separate packets for croutons and sunflower kernels. Their version of the parfait would have to be at least marginally healthier than McD's! Joy-joy!

Well, maybe not. This is fast food, after all, and while it's better than KFC, CfA has its own set of problems. (If you've seen the size of their salad dressing packet, you know what I mean. It lasts me for 5 at-home salads, before I toss the  left over.)

I decided to check the nutritional info online before ordering one.

Ouch! According to Chick-fil-A's website, where the Yogurt Parfait is listed under the breakfast items, this. little 6.5 oz. baby has 180 calories, 3 g of fat, 1 g of fiber, 6 g of protein and 33 g of sugar! And that's without the granola! Jiminy Cricket! Their "cinnamon cluster", which I've never had but assume is something akin to a cinnamon roll, has less sugar (28g) than that! But lots more fat, of course.

By comparison, McDonald's 7 oz., pre-granola, yogurt parfait, which they have the good manners to list on their dessert menu, is 130 calories, 2 g of fat, 0 fiber, 4 g of protein, and 19 g of sugar. Not a health food, to be sure, but for me a better on-the-go choice than CfA.  Not to mention that McD's  costs 60% less. Oh, and just to keep all things even, McD's fat-laden Cinnamon Melt has 32 g of sugar, less than CfA's parfait.

The best choice for yogurt parfaits, of course, is the at-home, DIY variety, but we still have to pay attention to the nutritional value of the yogurt. I use Oikos Greek Yogurt, which Kroger is frequently kind enough to have on their 10/$10 special. A 5.3-oz. container of Oikos has 90 calories, 0 fat, 0 fiber, 15 g of protein, and "only" 6 g of sugar. Toss in 10 calories worth of sliced strawberries, and you have yourself a magnificent 100-calorie snack, or a great start to a healthy breakfast. Plus, you can stir in extras like ground flax seed.Or chocolate chips.

If, on the other hand, I chose a similarly-sized yogurt like Yoplait Strawberry, I'd have 170 calories, 15 g of fat, no fiber, 5 g of protein, and 27 g of sugar. That definitely falls into my "dessert yogurt" category.

I'm not saying I won't ever order the CfA Yogurt Parfait, but it's not very likely. I'll stick to the salad menu.

My curiosity o' the day is what your favorite yogurt toppings might be. My DIY parfaits are feeling a bit routine these days, so it's time to shake things up.

Closing with a personal note: Thank you ALL who jumped in and played on Monday's Look Who's Talking post. (waves maniacally to newcomers!)  We are indeed a beautifully diverse group of folks and while we may use different approaches, we have the shared goal of better health. Ahhhh....

Product Review: Habit Changer

In mid-December I was contacted by the folks at Habit Changer, asking if I'd take one of their 42-day programs for a complimentary test spin (the only compensation offered or received) and then blog about it--whether my "experience was positive or not."  That seemed fair enough to me!

Habit Changer is a web-based application that uses the concepts of cognitive behavior therapy and (get ready for a new vocabulary word) neuroplasticity to help participants recognize current beliefs and behaviors and replace them with a different perspective.If you're like me, you may be unfamiliar with the term, neuroplasticity (please tell me I'm not the only one), but you're not unfamiliar with the tenets of it. At its most basic level, it's the brain's ability to "re-wire" itself, based on the input it's receiving. Many of us have been doing that for years, but on the opposite side of the field: negative messages resulting in unhealthy behaviors. The old "garbage in, garbage out" dynamic, or as I blogged about some time ago, seeing what we believe. Habit Changer uses a system of positive messages and activities to help users jump-start a reversal of that negative pattern.

The four most popular programs offered are Losing Weight, Stop Stressing, Money & You, and Feeding Your Kids, but there are several other programs offered as well. Most cost $19.95 (last time I checked), but the Feeding Your Kids program is F-R-E-E for parents.

I chose Losing Weight 2 for my test drive. It's designed for those who are at goal weight or who have been at goal weight at least once, and it's supposed to make the process of staying at goal weight easier. I'm all for that!

Each morning I receive a Habit Changer "lesson" on a specific topic, along with a daily challenge. Later in the day, I receive a reinforcing email reminder. I also opted to receive a text message reminder. And as if that's not enough, the system allows for custom messaging, a way of sending yourself reminders in the language that you know will keep you on track. My custom message is simple: What have you done today? ( I have a post-it note on my monitor that asks the same question.) If I get off track or am tempted to blow off planned exercise, these few words should get my thoughts redirected. Or at least, questioned. :)

I'm on day 36 of the 42-day program, and while many of the topics are things I already know and do, each concept was something I had to learn over the past three years. It would've been nice to have this tool to guide my progress. And some topics are nice little reminders or wake-up calls for things I could spend a little time on. Take today, for example.

The Day 36 message was titled "Slim" and really hit home for me. It encouraged me to stop thinking of myself as someone who will always think of myself as having a weight problem and to focus on thinking of myself as "slim."  They suggested these two actions:

* If you have reached or approached your target weight, tell yourself out loud at least once some variant of "I am slim".
* At the same time, visualize how the lines of your body now fit well with what your body was designed to be. Visualize yourself in your mind and think, That's about what it's supposed to be. I am a slim person. And I always will be. That reality is now me.

They ended the daily message with this perspective reminder:

If you are thinking: I'm afraid to promise myself that I'll always be slim. What if I fail, and my weight climbs again?
Try this instead: If I have reached my goal weight at least once, and I am this far into the program, I already know enough that minor setbacks won't change my long-term outcome.

I have no idea how Habit Changer knew that those fears creep into my thinking from time to time, but I've spent today reminding myself frequently that "I am fit" and "I am in control". And just as I was ordering my lunch today, I received a text message on my phone that said: "Now that you know you are in control, doesn't it feel good?" Since I had ordered a turkey sandwich, I was able to give myself a mental backpack and affirm that yes, control does feel pretty darned good.

And you can rest assured that the timing of today's message recap will arrive about the same time as my evening snack. I can't ever catch a break. :)

As I near the end of this particular program, I can honestly say that I haven't seen a single negative about it. The Habit Changer program is well-organized, with easy-to-follow concepts that are, in my opinion, all concepts crucial to building and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The application is easy to use and adapt to personal needs. I would have considered it money well spent if I had purchased the program. (Remember: I don't get paid to say that.)

And the best news is that there's no high fructose corn syrup!

As I was typing my custom email message above, I couldn't help but wonder what would YOU choose for your custom message? What words would help you maintain your healthy focus or get you turned around again on those days when LIFE happens?

Winner - Special K Resolution Party Pack

The random number generator has spoken and the winner of the Special K Resolution Party Pack is....robin.osullivan, who is potato chip and cheese snack-free!  (Robin, your profile doesn't have any contact info, so if you'll send your shipping info to me at ttdinbox[at]gmail[dot]com, I'll get that to the appropriate party.

Thanks to Special K for providing this gift pack opportunity!

And thanks to you all for sharing the deductions and additions to your daily fare. I actually jinxed myself in listing my items. Suddenly, I'm consumed with the notion of having pancakes! Guess I'll have to find a healthy version or slate them for a future monthly splurge. :)

Back later in the day! For now, must get the house ready for the electrician to do hi$ thing on the remodel project.

The Ones Left Behind (and a Giveaway opp)

I have that super savvy Sagan to thank for this topic. You're probably aware that Sagan is in the middle of a month-long raw food challenge. In her post today, Sagan revealed the non-raw foods at the top of her list at the end of this challenge. 

Now, I've never done a raw food challenge and am not likely to attempt one in this lifetime, but Sagan's post made me realize that I have a similar parallel in the conversion to healthier eating three years ago.

Most of you probably know that I didn't lose my weight by following a specific eating plan. I kind of made mine up as I went along, starting simply by developing a habit of eating 5-7 fruit and veggie servings per day, then focusing on lean meats, and then whole grains, and so on. I also allowed one splurge item each week (a serving of non-whole wheat bread OR a slice of pizza OR some other deviation from the norm that left me within my calorie count for that day.) If I followed that plan, I  promised myself ONE monthly splurge meal.

This plan worked for me (still does!), and I actually had a lot of fun with it. As thoughts of foods that hadn't made the cut came to mind, I could evaluate them for potential splurge meals and determine if they were "splurge-worthy." (Seinfeld fans will recognize the appropriation.) At one point, I had six months worth of meals set in my mind. After that, I think the new healthier way of eating had taken hold and I didn't think about many of those foods anymore. Not very often, anyway. Reading Sagan's post today, I realized that there are many foods I simply walked away from three years ago.

Here's a random sampling of foods I used to eat regularly but apparently have left behind:
:

Hostess cupcakes (chocolate or orange)
Little Debbie snack cakes
Rotel cheese dip
Ritz crackers
Peanut butter pie
Multiple slices of pizza with extra cheese
Tater tots
Pizza Rolls (the commercial kind. I do make some at home using wonton wrappers. Thanks, Roni.)
Regular potato chips
Honey-roasted peanuts


Those are just a few, and there are many other foods that I've had very, very sparingly over the past 3 years: french fries (4-5x), pancakes (2x), fried catfish (2x, both times as monthly splurge meals), fried chicken (once), and biscuits (4-5x, always when traveling for some reason).

Everything else I've managed to work into the plan, even if in very limited portions. :)

Foods I've significantly added in include dates, black beans, broccoli, green peppers, spinach (but still only in green smoothies), PB2, hummus, olive oil, pure pumpkin, yogurt, and soy milk. Oh, and air-popped popcorn. 'Cause this girl does love to snack! :)


I'm curious what foods other people have "left behind" in their quest for healthier eating. What foods do you now eat regularly that you rarely, or never ate before?

And speaking of snacking (and I was earlier), the kind folks at Special K have offered one lucky US-reader a Special K Resolution Party Pack, including their new  Special K Fruit Crisps, some cereal, a protein bar, an assortment of protein drinks, and some granola cereal.

Special K also provided me with one for taste testing, and I've sampled a couple of items. I opted for the protein bar one day when the tile guys were "finishing up soon" and my lunch was overdue. Another day, I tried one of the fruit crisps. I found both of them to be quite tasty and satisfying for their immediate purpose. I'll be trying the other products in little servings here and there, due to the ingredients lists, which include sugar and other things that are no longer part of my every day (or every week) repertoire.

If you live in the U.S., and you'd like a chance to win your own Special K Party Pack and make your own informed observation, or if you've tried the products and would love to get your hands on more, just let me know in the comments! I'll draw the lucky winner's name on Thursday morning, 6 a.m.-ish US Central.

One Big Happy Family

In case you haven't heard, there's a new weight loss reality show on TLC on Tuesday nights. One Big Happy Family follows the Coles family (Mom, Dad, teenage daughter, teenage son) as they work together to shed some serious weight, for serious reasons.They each weigh in at between 300-400 pounds, and mother, father, and son are experiencing health problems. So far, the daughter's ego seems to be the only thing ailing.:)

This is a family that seems to truly love each other. The teens are as obnoxious as many teens but seem to respect their parents. (I realize this might be for the cameras, but to me it seems genuine.)  Part of the family ritual is sharing meals together: fried chicken, mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese, lasagna, etc. (I'm not sure, but that might have all been in one meal.)  They like to eat and they like to laugh and aren't apologizing for either. When we first meet them, they all acknowledge the weight issues, but they don't seem to be particularly motivated to do anything about it.

That all changes when a series of doctor's appointments reveal the very real threat of serious health problems. Then Mama gets fierce and tries to get them turned around. The results are often thought-provoking, sometimes hilarious, occasionally sad, and refreshingly real. No trainers, no nutritionists,  no product placement (thank the Lord!). Instead, we see Dad learning that spinach can be served fresh. Mom broils meat for the first time ever (with Cammy-esque results.) The son has to endure the humiliation of an idiotic neighbor referring to him as "fat." The daughter breaks a chair she's sitting in and tries to laugh through the embarrassment. Many of us have lived these moments or moments similar enough to relate.


Some of the show's moments that ring most true to me are also generating some controversy. Critics claim that the show exploits the Coles and portrays them as exaggerated characters, not real people with real problems. I've tried to look at it from this point of view, but honestly, I just don't see the show in the same way. It has me wondering if there's some sort of cultural disconnect, but I'm not sure if it's related to size, or perhaps to race, or maybe a little bit of both. All I know is that each of these family members has said or done something that reminded me of ME 100 pounds ago. (Mom's healthy cooking efforts remind me more of me NOW.) These are my people.

Y'all remember how much I loved Ruby (Style Network, new season starts Feb. 14)? Well, I love following the Coles just as much! Led by one tenacious mother, with reluctant support from a family that doesn't exactly embrace change until they experience it, their efforts to turn their lives around the best way they know how has me wanting to stand up and cheer with each small victory. The Coles make my heart happy...and hopeful.


Okay, your turn. Have you seen this show? Like it? Had to look away? Fell asleep? Don't like weight loss reality shows in general? Please share.

Product Review, Contest, & Giveaway: Progresso Soup!

(Disclosure: This is a solicited, but unpaid review/announcement. Progresso provided an evaluation "gift pack", which included lots of soup, a mug, and a digital jump rope. Information provided by Progresso is shown in quotes; anything else is my opinion or random observation. Progresso is also providing a gift pack for the giveaway.) 

Lots to cover here, but we'll manage it in this order: The Soup, The Contest, and then the Giveaway. Yes, that should do nicely.

The Soup: 

Let's start with Progresso's claims: "With surprisingly hearty ingredients like pasta, beans, corn and rice, and flavor-packed vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, and peppers, Progresso Light and 100 Calorie Soups offer varieties with a good source of fiber and a full serving of vegetables. Satisfying your taste buds, Progresso Light and 100 Calories Soups can help curb your hunger, making it easier for you to stick to your weight management plan."

My experience? Today I sampled the Zesty Southwestern Vegetable (60 calories per cup!) and my taste buds were intrigued, but not satisfied. I stirred in a dash of taco seasoning and that little problem was resolved. Deliciously resolved. So many canned soups are waaaay too salty, but this one wasn't. Maybe it's the absence of MSG? I dunno.  Anyway, this is a broth-y soup, which makes it perfect for a tasty pre-dinner snack. While it's not exactly a "health food", it was definitely healthier than the jar of honey-roasted peanuts I had my eye on.

I could happily continue eating this soup as a snack or as a savory sidekick to a nice, healthy sandwich, but I'm thinking of promoting the remainder of this can to main-course status by adding some shredded chicken, peppers, and tomatoes. (Am I a genius or what?) I hadn't expected the duality of the product, so that's a nice little bonus.

 

There are many varieites of lighter Progresso Soups, but next up on my schedule is Chicken and Wild Rice. Or maybe the Italian Vegetable. Choices, choices...

The Contest: Progresso is sponsoring a big contest for the chance to win a full makeover in New York City from May 21st-23rd.. The winner will receive roundtrip airfare, a two-night hotel stay, a full makeover, a $1,000 wardrobe shopping spree, and a personal consultation at a New York department store. The contest opened yesterday and ends March 15th.

To learn more about the contest and submit your entry (if you live in the U.S.), visit www.Progresso.com/SouperYou . While you're there, you can also download a coupon for $1 off any three varieties of Progresso Soup. (You may want to save your time and not enter the contest, because I'm pretty sure I'm going to win it. I'm just saying.)

The Giveaway: To whet our appetites for winning, Progresso is providing a gift pack consisting of a nicely-sized Progresso soup mug, digital jump rope, and two cans of Progresso Soup for one of you lucky U.S.or Canadian readers. All you have to do to enter this giveaway is leave me a comment letting me know you want in. It's just that simple.  You have until Thursday, January 7th, 11:59 p.m. (US Central) to enter!

I'm not normally much of a soup eater (other than my own concoctions), but with single-digit temps (and possibly s-n-o-w!) predicted here over the next few days, Progresso's timing couldn't be better. I arrived home cold and hungry this afternoon, and I pulled out my saucepan even before I took my coat off.  I suspect that scene will be repeated many times over the next few weeks!

And now I'm off to write the award winning essay. Or maybe I'll just send them a photo of me in my everyday attire instead. It's fairly self-explanatory as to why I need a makeover. :)

DVD Reviews: Yoga for Beginners & 30 Day Shred

I've never been much for exercise DVDs, but in my quest for different types of workouts while avoiding the gym, I decided to use part of a Christmas gift card to give a couple of DVDs a try.

First up: Rodney Yee's Yoga for Beginners (link to my Amazon account, but on sale at Target this week for $11.99) A yoga-instructing friend had expressed a profound adoration of Rodney Yee early in her yoga practice, so I thought this might be a good choice. I'm not disappointed. The DVD contains two routines: a series of morning poses for energy and an evening routine for relaxation and rejuvenation. More importantly to me, it contains a separate segment focused solely on poses--their purpose, the correct positions, common mistakes, etc. Everything a klutzy girl needs!

I'm going to seriously work at developing an almost-every-day practice, but at minimum, I'll work through some of the poses each day. This DVD will definitely get some use.

My second DVD choice was based solely on blogger community popularity. I bought it despite the fact that I'm not a huge Jillian Michaels fan (keep your tomatoes; it's nothing personal!)  The DVD I'm referring to is, of course, Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred.(link to my Amazon account, but on sale at Target this week for $8.00) If you're one of the 12 bloggers who hasn't tried this DVD, I'll dish: It's based on a 3-2-1 formula, which is 3 minutes of strength, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of ab work. Repeated several times, in circuit fashion. There are also active stretches to warm-up and stretchy stretches to cool down. All together, it's a little less than 30 minutes for each workout. There are three total, and within each there are demos for a beginner and a more experienced exerciser. (Note: in all honesty, even the beginner level would've been too difficult for me 100 pounds ago.)

So far, I've only tried one workout and wasn't able to fully execute it. My workouts normally consist of heavier weights with fewer reps, which meant I wasn't able to do all the reps with the weights I have. (I went to fail on each circuit, then tossed the weights on the bed and continued the exercises in proper form, sans weights.) I'm also accustomed to 30-60 second recoveries between sets. Not having those recoveries was tough, but that may have been because of the too-heavy weights. I'll try again with lesser weights. (I'm thinking I'll fill a couple of empty water bottles with sand and see how that works. Or I'll cave in and buy some lighter weights at Target. They're also on sale this week.)

Another problem I had was with the cardio portion of the workout. It has a lot of jumping about and for the girl who has leftover belly flab, jumping about is very uncomfortable. And not in a good way. I'll have to figure out a workaround for that. It's do-able.

The bottom line is that I didn't hate this DVD. In fact, even in the one partial workout, I liked most of the exercises (yaaay! squat punches!)  It's a good workout and due to the lack of recovery periods, it's a quick workout. If I have the proper equipment, it might be just the ticket on days when I need to save a few minutes.

So there you have it. I haven't fallen in love with exercise DVDs, but I'm not sorry I bought either of these. One will get ongoing use and the other will be a good fill-in during the cold dreary days of winter when the long, 20-yard sprint from the car to the gym door is too much to bear.

Your opinions on these or other exercise DVDs are always welcome and greatly appreciated!

~

Steppin' Up

I've been avoiding the gym lately. I'm not sure why, but I think it has something to do with avoiding that "stuck indoors" feeling that winter brings. (I do not like winter. )(At all.)

The good news is that I'm not avoiding exercise. I have a treadmill at home, and over the past couple of years, I've acquired a few other at-home exercise tools. One item, a going-away gift from a friend/former co-worker, is a Reebok 5-Position Step Deck*. I've used the step a few times for basic step-ups with weights, but not much more. Until last week, that is.

This particular fitness step comes with two DVDs, one for toning and one for cardio. I'd set them aside and forgotten about them, to be honest, but last week I decided to give them a whirl.

Verdict? Not bad. Not bad at all.

Both DVDs allow for beginner and intermediate levels. Since they do not have a clumsy-and-uncoordinated level, I decided to start with beginner and fill in with other exercises if I didn't feel I got a proper workout.

I really do need to film myself doing the cardio workout. I could upload it to YouTube for your benefit. (I have it on good authority that belly laughing probably burns a couple hundred calories.) As I mentioned, I have zero coordination. I can do the basic step on/step off movements just fine. Ditto the kicks and the "repeater knee." I can even clumsily do the side steps and crossover steps. The problem (and the hilarity) comes in when the demo lady says, "Okay, get those arms moving!" I try to match my movements to hers (and that of her two sidekicks--which, btw, why do these exercise DVDs always have two sidekicks?). The results are dismal, but amusing. At some point, I give up and just flail my arms about. I figure movement is movement. Who cares if it's synchronized?

I'm sticking with the beginner level on cardio for my next two workouts, as I try to master--or even just tame--the coordination. I have, however, raised the step to its highest level. At the end of the 30-minute cardio workout, I have a nice little sweat going. On days when 30 minutes is all I have time for, this will work, and on those days when I want to do more, I can always repeat the DVD or hop on the treadmill. Or Mother Nature willing, bundle up and walk outside!

The strength training DVD also provides a decent workout, if a bit too short at 15 minutes. Instructions for beginniner, intermediate, and advanced are given, with the differences primarily related to auxilary equipment used (resistance bands and dumbbells) and step position. I started at the intermediate level, because I couldn't find the right resistance band. I found the more resistant band yesterday, so I'll move to advanced level today. To get the benefit I want, I think I'll repeat the DVD at least once and toss in a few extras, like jackknife and hamstring curls. Maybe some pushups and lunges. After all, bodyweight is free. :)

My goal with strength training is to find that edge between soreness (I'm opposed to it) and knowing that the targeted muscle groups are fully engaged and pushed. I believe that if we properly warm up before and stretch after a workout, soreness is totally unnecessary. And for me, soreness is also detrimental to the process. I'm not going to consistently do something that makes me hurt.

It's nice to have this at-home option for a gym alternative, and I'm looking forward to developing it into a full strength training workout. If you have any other step DVDs to recommend, I'm all ears.

And flailing arms.

Do you have a gym alternative for indoor exercise? Or is the gym your One True Love?



*Link is through my Amazon Associates account. You can also find them at many sporting goods stores and Target.

Product Review: EatSmart Digital Bathroom Scale (Giveaway, Too)

(Disclosure: I am not affiliated with EatSmart Products in any way. This is a solicited review, but no compensation was offered or received. The company did provide the product for evaluation.)

There are probably more than a few of you who rubbed your eyes and wondered if you were at the right blog. Cammy, a.k.a. She Who Hates the Scale and Hasn't Owned One in 20 Years, is reviewing a scale?! She's lost her mind!

Possibly. Probably, even. But I've been headed that direction for a long time anyway.

When the kind folks at EatSmart Products asked me to review their scale, I almost declined their offer (politely, of course.) Reviewing it meant having it in my possession.

In. My. House.

A scale! ::tremble::

In thinking it over, though, I realized I was thinking like the Cammy from two years ago, the one who let the scale declare her success, rather than letting her actions speak the truth. I know now that the scale is a simple unit of measure, one moment in time. What I do consistently tells my story.

So I went back to the email, clicked the link, and took my first gander at the scale:



Oooh! Ahhh! Shiny! And with nifty features, too! From the EatSmart description:

# Large 3.5" LCD display - Easy to read from any distance
# 4 high precision sensors - Consistent and accurate measurement
# Max weight 330 lbs / 150 kgs
# Sturdy tempered glass top and large 12" x 13" platform
# Auto Calibrated; Auto Power-Off; 4 AAA batteries (included)

Aw, they even include the batteries. Who could turn down a request to review a product that even includes the batteries? What could go wrong?

Despite some lingering reservations, I agreed to review the scale. I am pleased (and more than relieved) to report that the experience held one pleasant surprise after another.

My first surprise upon opening the box was just how pretty this scale is. Seriously. At 12"x13", the deck is large, but it's only 1" high so it doesn't feel too big. It's sleek and actually kind of sexy looking with it's shiny silver and glass.

The second surprise occurred when I inserted the batteries and saw the display. They promised a large, easy-to-read display, and they were right. If Google satellite was passing over my house this morning, it probably picked up this display. Perfect for the early morning blurry vision. Potential Downside: No squinting and pretending an '8' is a '3'.

Third surprise: Since I haven't exercised at the gym since before I went on vacation a couple months ago, I haven't had any way to weigh myself. With a four-week road trip and Thanksgiving in my recent past, I'll admit I was a little nervous getting on the scale this morning. Being the professional reviewer that I am, I pushed my fears aside, mostly by reminding myself that while my halo was askew a few times, my overall actions have been good. Plus, all my clothes still fit. The scale agreed and showed me at the higher end of within my goal range. Whew!

But wait. EatSmart said their scale was accurate, but how would I really know? I didn't want to recommend an inaccurate scale! I could be sued, or worse, ostracized by the entire fitness/weight loss blogging community! Oh no! So I ran to my Professional Review Testing Center, a.k.a. the home gym, a.k.a. the spare bedroom, grabbed a couple of 10-pound dumbbells, and placed them on the scale. Scale results: 20 pounds exactly! Yippee!

It's always a relief when I can give a thumbs up to a product offered for review.
I love reviewing products, but I'm hesitant to agree to them (and sometimes I regretfully turn down requests) because it takes a lot of time to politely say I didn't like it. Thankfully, that wasn't the case this time. I like the design and functionality of this scale and at $28.95 with free shipping, the price is right.

To see customer reviews and a video demo of the scale in action, click here.

To order directly from Amazon, click here.

To order from Amazon via my Amazon store*, click here.

EatSmart Products offered (and I accepted!) to send one lucky U.S. reader their very own scale. (Apologies to the international readers!)

To enter the random drawing which will occur on Sunday, Dec. 6th at 9 p.m. (Central Time), leave me a comment letting me know you want in! Oh, and you also have to promise me that if you win, you won't weigh yourself every 15 minutes or obsess about a 0.2 pound loss or otherwise engage in any scale silliness. It's a pledge I am taking, too!

In all seriousness, I'm interested in how other people view the scale. Keeping in mind that it's all a process, is the scale your main measurement, or have you reached the place where it's one of many? Or do you skip the scale entirely? Inquiring minds, and all that jazz. :)


(Disclosure #2 - Products ordered through my Amazon store generate a small commission to me. Only products that I like and use now or have used in the past are included, unless otherwise noted.)

In the Beginning (Giveaway Post)

(Disclosure: Contains a couple of my shiny new Amazon Associate links. Yeppers, I'm an Amazonian now. I figured I linked there all the time anyway, I might as well try to earn a couple of dollars a year. But no pressure on you guys. I've read your blogs and know that most of you are as broke as I am. I'm just hoping some millionaire on a shopping spree stops by here. Okay, enough yammering--on to the post!)

I'm in a nostalgic mood today. Maybe it's because of this week's Makeover Monday topic (for those of you who skipped a day or are perhaps having a senior moment, it was about taking the first step), or maybe it's because I'm approaching the one-year mark at goal weight. Or maybe I'm just bored.

Anyway, I was remembering back to my first steps at getting on the exercise bandwagon. These were definitely tippy-toe steps. I started by walking on the treadmill 20-30 minutes (and quite slowly, I might add) several times per week. And that was it.

I did that for a while, and then I stopped. Started again and stopped. And then again. The clue bus finally stopped in front of me, and I realized I was bored. I needed something extra.

Enter yoga. A dear friend had completely transformed her life (body, mind, and career) with yoga and was living proof that it did indeed improve flexibility, increase strength, and reduce stress. I decided to give it a try and ordered a couple of DVDs via Netflix.

FAIL. Falle. Versagen Sie. 失敗します échouer.

No matter which language you use, it wasn't good. (Although it doesn't seem so bad in Japanese.)

The problem was that the DVD instructors kept telling me to do things my body just couldn't do. It wasn't a matter of flexibility; the problem was my size. A girl with 100 extra pounds mostly around her midsection doesn't go easily into child's pose.

Frustrated, I gave up on yoga. Soon after, I quit walking too. Woe, woe is me.

I'm not sure where I heard about Megan Garcia and the Just My Size Yoga DVD*, but I'll forever be grateful for finding it. This DVD is made for people of all shapes, sizes, and abilities. The moves have been modified to allow room for our extra bits. And if the moves are still troublesome, there's a whole segment devoted to even more alternate methods.

But it's not just the modified poses that made this DVD so precious to me. The fact that the teacher is the aforementioned Megan Garcia, a plus-sized model who is completely, serenely, comfortable in her body, made me want to practice for the right reasons. Not to "be skinny", but to feel truly good about myself and what I was doing. I was on my way!

Later, I found MegaYoga*, Megan Garcia's book, which presents many more yoga poses with modifications for "curvy women." This is my yoga bible. The pictures and text combine to make the moves easily understandable and executable. Well, most of them. There's this pose called Eagle that I'm about to wave the white flag on. For now, anyway.

To commemorate and celebrate my first steps toward fitness (over two years ago now!), we have two giveaway opportunities: a copy of the DVD or a copy of the book. You may enter for one or the other, or both. Just let know in the comments if you're interested. Sharing any yoga tips you might have will gain you extra appreciation, but will not increase your chances of winning.

Anyone on the planet may enter, as long as you have a shipping address. I'll mention that the DVD is region 1 format, which is normally US or Canada. If you have a region free DVD player and live somewhere other than the US or Canada, feel free to throw your name into the hat for the DVD as well.

Drawings will be Friday, October 2, at 6 a.m. (central U.S.)

*I've included my spiffy new Amazon associate links here, but the DVD price appears to have doubled since I bought this one several months ago. I suppose that's because they're in such short supply. Netflix and Blockbuster both have copies for rent. Your local library might also be a good resource. If you asked me nicely, I might even loan you my copy. :)

Winner: 101 Things to Do Before You Diet

The winner of 101 Things to Do Before You Diet, available through Amazon (or Amazon.ca or Amazon.uk):

Wendy! from Wendy's 23 Things on a Stick! Woo-hoo, Wendy! Just send me your mailing info (my email is ttdinbox[at]gmail[dot]com), and I'll forward it to the Rodale Books contact.

Thanks to all for playing, and stay tuned for another giveaway next Tuesday. That's the day after the much more important and influential Makeover Monday. :)

Have a great weekend!

Book Review: 101 Things to Do Before You Diet by Mimi Spencer

(Disclosures: I received no compensation for this post, other than a copy of the book for review. Also, while I'm including links to the book on Amazon, I am not an Amazon affiliate. That may change in the near future, but I'll be sure to let you know if/when it does.)

I'm not much for "diet" books, so when Rodale Books offered me the opportunity to review 101 Things to Do Before You Diet by Mimi Spencer, I almost politely declined. It was the subtitle that intrigued me: Because Looking Great Isn't Just About Losing Weight. Ain't that the truth!

As it turns out, this isn't a "diet" book at all. Author Mimi Spencer, a U.K.-based fashion & beauty journalist, offers a collection of small changes {pause for TippyToe Tingle!} the reader can make to feel better about herself at her current weight. These include not only suggested changes to menu and movement, but also tips and tricks for dressing to flatter the body, no matter it's shape or size. To round things out, there are also several tips on changing mindset and outlook. (Tip #4: "Stop Worshipping Thin and Love the Skin You're In"--one of my favorites.)

Many of the tips are things most of us already know. It's just that we sometimes don't do them very well and need reminding. Ms. Spencer's writing style lends itself to that. She's not a medical professional nor a psychologist, and she doesn't pretend to be. Her voice is much more Auntie Mame than Dr. Oz, if you know what I mean.

I did find a few quibbles here and there (with 101 things, I was bound to), but overall I enjoyed the book, so much so that I'll forgive the careless "muscle weighs more than fat" advice and tip #68: "Wear Heels. Always" (these tippy toes don't do heels, not for more than an hour).

With a nutritional focus on eating mostly fresh, whole foods in proper portions and an internal focus on loving who we are as we are, there's more than enough to keep me happy and returning for reference.

101 Things to Do Before You Diet is available through Amazon (or Amazon.ca or Amazon.uk).

One of you won't have to bother with Amazon at all, because Rodale has offered to ship one of you your very own copy of the book! Just let me know in the comments if you're interested. Yes, lurkers, that includes you!

I'll draw for the winner at midnight Friday, Sept. 18th (or early, early Saturday if I fall asleep.) Times are US Central. Unfortunately this is a USA/Canada only opportunity, but don't worry, international peeps, I've got you covered in a different giveaway week after next!



~

And Now, A Word from Our Sponsors

Okay, so they're not really sponsors, but these companies did send me some samples to try. I just thought having "sponsors" sounded kind of lofty. Rest assured, no $$$ exchanged hands. Not even an offer of $$$ (not even $).

Going in order of receipt...

Pond's Towelettes - PR-rep Katie sent me a package of Pond's Wet Cleaning Towelettes (Original Clean formula), specifically recommending them as a post-workout cleanser. (Katie is smart that way. That, or she's seen me after a workout!) Well, not only did I find these towelettes to be good cleansers, they're also soothing to my over-heated, post-workout skin. They even remove the sweatyraccoon-eye traces of my so-called waterproof mascara! (Yes, I wear mascara to the gym. Get over it! I also wear deodorant, but I don't hear anyone snickering over that!)

Follow the Pond's link above for more info...and a coupon for $1.50 off! (I couldn't get the coupon to print, but you may have better luck.)


SunButter Sunflower Seed Spread - The SunButter team sent me a sample of their tasty sunflower seed spread, which I found to be quite tasty and a nice occasional alternative for my beloved peanut butter. I've only had it on its own, so far, but I'll be doing the true test--sunbutter and banana sandwich--soon! Click on the SunButter link above to learn more about this product.


When Danielle at True North Snacks offered to send me some snacks to try, I jumped at the opportunity. (Read: camped out at mailbox for a week, waiting for them to arrive.) I'd seen the products in the store, but since I don't usually buy any packaged snacks, I hadn't taken the plunge. Danielle surprised me by NOT sending sample sizes, but three regular-size snack bags! (I'm still not sure whether to be grateful or upset. :)) Specifically I received the new flavors Apple Cinnamon Nut Clusters, Citrus Burst Nut Clusters, and Almond Cranberry Crisps.

Folks, these are good. Dangerously good. So good I had to hide them from myself in the appliance pantry (second shelf, behind the airpopper) to avoid going overboard. I even rationed out the tasting process over a period of a couple of weeks. (I deserve a freaking medal for that alone.)

This is processed food, but the ingredients are real food, with almonds listed first on the products I tried. One ingredient earning a caution: sugar. I can definitely taste the sweetness, but it doesn't send that lovely little zing! rushing through my body like a Little Debbie Swiss Roll. :) According to the label there are 5g or 6g of sugar per serving, depending on the product. By comparison, a Little Debbie Swiss Roll has 25+g of sugar per serving. That's enough of a difference that if I'm longing for a sweet-n-crunchy splurge snack, this is definitely a product I'll consider in the future...in small quantities. If sugary or sweet foods are negative triggers that send you off the nutritional deep end, you might think twice before purchasing.

If you're interested in trying these snacks, click on the True North link above to go to their product page, where you will find a $1 off coupon.


With that, I think I'm caught up on product samples. (Quick reminder to the Smart Car people that I'm up for reviewing your cute little auto on my cross-country trip next month! Or any other auto with new brakes I didn't have to pay for!)

Tomorrow I'll be back with a review of a fun new book and a giveaway of said fun new book. You'll have to come back if you want the nitty gritty.

Hope you're all having as wonderful a week as I am!

~

What Fresh Hell Is This?

Today's title is actually a quote attributed to Dorothy Parker. It also describes perfectly my return to the gym.

Before I left for Chicago, my knees were bothering me during squats and lunges, so I thought that would be a good opportunity to give them a break. Apparently the break went on a little too long. On Monday, I added them back into my routine, and while my knees are just fine, my quads and glutes are not happy with me. Not at all. It reminds me of when I first started training. I'm not big on post-workout pain, so I spent extra time stretching after today's gym session. So far, so good.

Monday was also my first weigh-in, post-vacation, post-birthday celebration. The good news is that I'm right where I was when I left for Chicago. The bad news is that I was up a couple of pounds when I left for Chicago. So I need to shed two pounds, or possibly a little more. I'd like to be at or even slightly below my goal weight when I leave for my Western Tour in early October. I'm setting October 1st (or so) as the goal date for goal weight. Surely I can lose 2 or 3 pounds by then.

Reporting in on a new snack I tried: Yoplait Yogurt Parfait. (The link will take you to a site with a $1 off coupon.) The parfaits are combinations of different flavored yogurts. I've only tried the Creme Caramel, but they also have Lemon Torte, Chocolate Raspberry, and Triple Berry Creme. With 13 grams of sugar, this product definitely falls in the realm of dessert yogurt, but it also has 5g of protein and the other goodies yogurt provides. Functional dessert, in other words. One more word: yummy!

Busy times here this week, but I'll do my best to catch up on my reader tonight and tomorrow!
I hope I discover that you are all having a most marvelous week!

Giveaway Post: Younger (Thinner) You Diet

I don't read many diet and/or fitness books. It's not that I don't think they have value; it's more that there are so many, each with its own set of experts and studies to prove their theories. Lacking a degree in bio-anything, I'm often left scratching my head wondering just who's right and how right they might be.

Two of the diet/fitness books I do have are from Rodale (8 Minutes in the Morning by Jorge Cruise and Eat This Not That by David Zinczenko, with Matt Goulding), and I enjoyed both of those, so when the kind folks Rodale contacted me offering a copy of of Younger (Thinner) You Diet by Eric R. Braverman, MD for a giveaway, I gratefully accepted.

I didn't read this book (merely skimmed it), but it seems well-organized and easy to read. The basic premise is that obesity is fundamentally a brain chemical imbalance that can be treated successfully with a combined approach of diet, nutrients, and hormones. Four critical brain chemicals--dopamine, acetylcholine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and serotonin--and how they affect aging, weight loss, and health are discussed in detail, and recommendations and guidelines for ensuring optimum balance of these chemicals are provided.

In my not-reading-but-skimming session, it seemed to me that the nutritional recommendations are similar to those many of us follow (make that "mostly follow" for some of us): avoid sugar, choose lean protein and fiber-rich foods, drink water, eat fruits and vegetables, etc. In that regard, there wasn't much new for me here. What was a nice twist was the rather significant emphasis on using spices as a nutritional supplement. There are even tasty-looking recipes and shopping lists included!

One aspect of this book that makes me uncomfortable is that it includes suggestions for using bioidentical hormones. My discomfort is not in using these hormones, but in my lack of knowledge in this area. Given the recent controversy on the subject, I don't think it's something to be approached hastily. I do like that the author suggests talking to your doctor first, before following that path.

There is, of course, a chapter devoted to exercise, with recommendations for strength training (emphasizing weight-bearing exercise--yaaay!) along with aerobic activity. Again, though, not much new if you've been immersed in this for a couple of years. :)

If I had more time, I'd definitely read this book in greater depth and research some of the new-to-me concepts. It is well-written and easy to follow, even for someone who doesn't have a degree in bio-anything.

Should you be intrigued and want to explore Younger (Thinner) You Diet further, just leave me a 'count me in' comment below! (Oh, and I'm sorry to report that you should also live in the U.S.) I'll accept entries through midnight (US Central) Wednesday, July 1st and then use the random number generator to choose our winner!

Cammy Has a Crush...or Two (a giveaway post)

Happy Tuesday, and congrats on making it through Monday! Let's celebrate!

As today's title suggests, I am besotted. It happened last month while I was in Tampa, when I stumbled across a shop with artwork by Brian Andreas. Am I the last person on the planet to have discovered his amazing Storypeople? Certainly I'm not the first to have developed a fairly significant crush. Although maybe it's the art I'm swooning for, since I've never actually met Brian Andreas and besides, I think he's happily married and I don't do that.

Anyway, the first piece I saw was Imagining World, in the form of a wooden sculpture inscribed with this bit of prose that grabbed my heart:

In my dream, the angel shrugged & said, If we fail this time, it will be a failure of imagination & then she placed the world gently in the palm of my hand.

As I do so often, I immediately thought about my weight loss and how I now feel as though I have a brave new world in the palm of my hand, ripe for the taking. ::happy sigh::

Since then, I've visited the Storypeople site and browsed the brilliant stories there. Some favorites:

Big Plans
Your job is to focus on my personal happiness, she said, & I've got big plans, so break time is over.

My sometimes-mantra the past couple of weeks has been "break time is over." Works every time!

Hoping to Fall
Leaning out as far as she can, hoping she'll fall soon, so she can stop worrying about whether it will happen or not.

I think about this one in terms of previous efforts of fitness and wonder if I set myself up for some self-fulfilling prophecies along the way? Probably.

Life Plan
I asked her what she planned to do with her life & she said she was way beyond that point already. I'm just happy I remember to be there when it happens, she said.

This one is good for me when I'm trying to be where my butt is. :)

Hindsight
I didn't listen to her because she was my mother & wouldn't know anything until I was much older.

Finances willing, I found my next year's Mother's Day gift.

I'll admit that some of the stories I just don't get, but they all make me think or feel or laugh or cry or some combination of any of those things. Thus, I sent a fan letter to the Storypeople people, and guess what? They have graciously and generously gifted us with a box of all occasion cards!

Each set contains 3 cards each of the following stories:
1. Imagining World: In my dream, the angel shrugged & said, If we fail this time, it will be a failure of imagination & then she placed the world gently in the palm of my hand.
2. Bittersweet : She said she usually cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful & life was so short.
3. Illusion of Control: If you hold on to the handle, she said, it's easier to maintain the illusion of control. But it's more fun if you just let the wind carry you.
4. True Things: They came to sit & dangle their feet off the edge of the world & after awhile they forgot everything but the good & true things they would do someday.

I bought this set of cards in Tampa, and I've framed three of them (1,2,&3) for hanging in my home office. The others will be shared at special times, with special people.

If YOU would like an opportunity to win this set, all you have to do is leave me a comment saying so. If you check out the Storypeople site and share the title of your favorite story, I'll give you two entries!

The contest will be open until Thursday (6/18) at midnight, US Central. I'll let the random number generator pick the winner on Friday morning. And this time, the contest is open to everyone on the planet, no US-only!

Thank you, Storypeople! (Note: I received no compensation from them for this review other than the cards, which they supplied expressly for the giveaway!)

In other news, you ALL have an opportunity to win $1,000. Not from ME; I don't have that kind of budget. Heck, I don't even have a budget other than postage. :)

Nope, this giveaway opportunity is located at the The 50 Million Pounds Challenge. This initiative, led by Dr. Ian Smith (object of my second crush, because he's cute as can be), is helping to unite people in their efforts to get healthier and lose excess pounds. The site contains tools for tracking food and exercise, as well as a journal and forums for sharing progress. Oh, there's lots of other stuff...and it's all F-R-E-E!

Also, from now (well, yesterday) through June 25th, for each day that you track your activities, you're automatically entered in a daily drawing for $1,000! (I was contemplating joining, but I don't think they'd be amused by my current goal of losing 1/2 pound to get back to my target weight. *G*)

Anyway, check it out for yourself and if you enter and win, thank the PR people for letting us know about this. :)

On a personal note, the first day of my new challenge was a success. Given my assessment results, I probably should have started with week 2 or week 3 but I've always been a bit of an underachiever, so I started with Week 1, Day 1. :) I added in some tricep pull-downs, lat pull-downs, low rows, and lunges with weights, along with some core work for a well-rounded workout! As the weeks progress, I'll probably have to jettison some of the add-ons, but for now it feels great!

Hope you're all having a spectacular week!


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Product Review/Giveaway: My Yoga 2 Go

I have an on-again/off-again yoga practice, mostly off these days, but I always circle back to it eventually.

One of the beautiful practicalities of yoga is that it's so portable. Or it should be. My biggest problem with developing a regular practice is that it's not always convenient for me to pop in one of my yoga DVDs, and--trust me--I'm definitely a Must-Have-DVD-for-Guidance student. That's why I had such a delicious tingle when I saw the My Yoga 2 Go Practice System. I'll wait while you check it out.

Too lazy busy to click the link? Okay then, think: one of those over-the-door plastic shoe bags meets yoga flash cards and you've pretty much got the concept.

There are 70 cards in seven different sequences, and joytotheworld THREE sequences are beginner level! Woo-hoo! My people got three sequences! Sequences include back strength, hip-opening, ashtanga, core strength for athletes, flow, energizer, and relaxation. To use the cards, you first select your desired sequence (and you can customize your sequence if you know what you're doing or you want to play). Next you organize the cards by pose number and put them in the display tote (previously referred to as a quasi-plastic shoe bag), and then hang the tote on a wall or doorknob.

Traveling? No problem! The whole system folds up into an amazingly compact portable tote (an engineering marvel!) about the size of a trade paperback book. (I just noticed that it even has an ISBN number on the back!)

The whole kit and caboodle costs $29.95, which one of you lucky readers will avoid paying because the kind, kind folks at My Yoga 2 Go have generously contributed one practice system for our giveaway pleasure. More wooing-and-hooing!

With my sincerest apologies to international readers, this giveaway is limited to residents of North America only. (I'll work on some more global giveaways in the future, I promise!)

For N.A. readers, there's only one requirement for entering the contest: You must take one minute to stop what you're doing, close your eyes, and breathe. Let me know when you're done, and I'll enter you in the contest.

Contest will be open until Wednesday (June 6th)at midnight, central U.S. time. I'll announce the lucky winner on Thursday!

Many thanks to the My Yoga 2 Go folks for their generosity and for their creativity in creating such a helpful practice tool for those of us who need the help.

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Product Review: Dole Fruit Bowls with Sugar Free Gels

Note: If you are a "whole foods only" type person, this is not the review for you.

The kind folks at Dole asked me to conduct a taste testing of their Fruit Bowls in Sugar-free Gel, which they promote as a "satisfying, lower-sugar snack that fits your life." According to Dole, the sugar-free gels are 70 calories for each 4.3 oz. cup with 25% of the RDA of Vitamin C. Gels are sweetened with maltitol, a sugar alcohol. If consumed in too-large quantities, maltitol may cause a bit of digestive discomfort. Like so many processed foods, smaller quantities are advisable.

Which brings me to a disclaimer:, of sorts: I'm a firm believer in fresh, whole fruit as a grab-and-go healthy snack, but there are times when I run out of fruit before grocery day, or maybe my taste buds are wanting something a little "snack-y", or whatever. At those times, it's nice to have something lower in calories, but rich in flavor, on hand to fill the gap. This seemed like a product worth testing.

Dole said they'd send me "some product." Oh.My.Word. Did they ever! Two big cases of it. I had strawberry with pineapple and cherry with mixed fruit gel packs stacked all over my kitchen. It was beautiful. Snackville USA.

Fortunately, it didn't take long for me to realize there were far too many snacks for me to tackle on my lonesome. Enter The Tippy Toe Test Crew I (a.k.a. my co-workers), who were delightfully surprised to arrive at the office to stacks of free snacks, just one of the cartons Dole sent my way. (I'll get to the other test crew in a minute.)

My co-workers are a diverse group of folks, mostly accounting/finance professionals, who range in age from early 20s to mid-50s. They come from all over the US and beyond, including Turkey, Israel, Argentina, Canada, and Texas. (tee hee, couldn't resist the last one) Most are healthy-ish eaters, but few of us ever pass up a chance for cake if it presents itself. I was really curious as to how they would respond to this product.

The first comment was on the cherry jello. "T" said that she was surprised at the strong cherry flavor. She had expected some watered-down, hardly recognizable version of cherry present in so many products, but found the opposite to be true.

Fifteen minutes later, "S" reported in, saying that the cherry tasted watered down and was hardly recognizable as cherry.

Like I said, they're a diverse group. :) Both agreed that the fruit tasted crisp and fresh, and that the consistency was just right. I agree with both of them on that (especially the crispy fruit part), and I liked both the strawberry and the cherry flavors.

Comments compiled from other responses:
Just the right amount of sweetness, with no aftertaste.
Coloring on the cherry could be improved (a little pale)
Light and refreshing
Sweet tooth satisfied with one serving
Need to come up with another name than "gel"--kept thinking about hair gel
People will send you free food just for having a blog? Uh, I'll be in my office. {whispered: how do you start a blog?}

Saving the best for last, my favorite was from "J's" 2-year old daughter, who commented, "'Dis is good stuff!"

So the Tippy Toe Test Crew I's overall view of the Dole Fruit Bowls with Sugar-free Gels was positive.

I'm quite impressed with how seriously the crew members have taken on their taste tester roles. I'm not sure it's occurred to them that when I leave this week, I take the free food wth me. LOL I do appreciate their time and their honest comments.

Now, as to Tippy Toe Test Crew II--well, that plan took a right turn along the way. I had planned to send the other case of gels to my parents for testing with their Sunday School class, which is completely made up of the 60+ crowd, most on restricted diets and always on the lookout for treats What they've elected to do instead is to forward the gels to one of their pet projects, The Ronald McDonald House. The class provides and serves lunch there once a month for sick children and their families, and they're sure the kids will LOVE the snacks. I think they're right, and I don't think the Dole folks will mind. (If they do, they can let me know and I'll reimburse them for the products.)

If you made it this far and you're interested in trying this product for free, send me an email (see the sidebar of my blog for the addy) with your name and address. I'll send you some coupons. (Offer good while supplies last. I'll come back and do a strikethrough when I'm out of coupons.)

Thanks to Dole for providing this opportunity. Thanks to you for reading the review.


(For the record: I received no compensation from Dole for this review, and if the results had been negative, I would've reported that, too. I'd have tried to be nice about it, but I would have reported it.)

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Winners: NURU Exercise Anywhere Cards

Congratulations to Lisa and Emily, winners of the NURU Exercise Anywhere Cards.

Send me your mailing info (cammysaid [at] gmail [dot]com) and I'll get the cards out to you ASAP! Or Tuesday, whichever comes first.

Thanks to all who commented, and welcome, lurkers! You were all such great exercisers this weekend! Me? I worked out at the gym on Saturday morning and walked Saturday afternoon, then more walking on Sunday. A good weekend for me.

Questions answered:
Lisa asked how I got the NURU folks to send me the cards. Answer: No clue. The offer just showed up in my inbox. PR folks troll (in a positive sense of the word) the blogs looking for candidates that fit some profile they're looking for, and I guess mine matched this time. Woo-hoo! If only the Smart Car people would come by here! (C'mon guys, I'll take your cute little car--in red, please--all over the country and blog about it.)

SpunkySuzi asked how long it took me to get the cards. Answer: ForEVER, or so it seemed. It was probably more like a month. :) I had almost crossed them off my list, but they came through.

Kristi asked where to get the cards. Answer: Right HERE, for $9.95, which seems pretty reasonable.

Thanks to all! And thanks again to the lurkers, for giving me new blogs to read! Yum!

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Saturday Double Feature (includes a giveaway)

How many of you are old enough to remember Saturday Double Features? (Not me, I'm sure I just read about them in a history book or something.)

First Feature: It seems I am the 259th blogger to receive the Nuru Exercise Anywhere cards, but I'm not complaining. (Though I might have if I hadn't liked them.)

But I do like these cards.

If you haven't read about them, the Exercise Anywhere product is a deck of thirty 2"x3" (approximately, since I can't find my ruler) laminated cards containing illustrated exercises that can be done...well, anywhere. In addition, the cards contain information and advice on strength training--how to work the major muscle groups (chest, back, lower back, shoulders, arms, etc.) along with sample workout suggestions, including some cardio work.

The deck is divided into sections based on muscle groups and each exercise is presented in easy-to-read language with decent illustrations. They also include variations for beginners to advanced, so there's a little something for everyone. And the best part of the program (IMHO) is that you don't have to have any special equipment to do the exercises! A couple of exercises use a towel or a step, but the focus is on using body weight, which is what makes the exercises so portable.

Plus, you gotta love an exercise product that encourages TV watching. (Really! They actually said that on the back of card #3! )

Okay, what they said was to use commercial breaks to "Work hard, then reward yourself with a cool glass of water and 10-15 minutes of TV goodness." Which is pretty much the same as ordering me to watch HGTV for hours, in my book.

While I have no complaints about the cards or the exercises (quite the opposite, actually), I will mention that the little clip ring thingie they provided to link the cards together almost took out one of my freshly manicured nails. Had it actually happened, this would've been an entirely different review, lemme tell you.

But disaster was averted, and I can happily give the product two thumbs up. Or I guess I should use two toes up to follow my blog theme. But that reminds me of my sister's wedding pictures, in which yours truly has her big toes pointed skyward in every single photo. No idea why, but there it is, recorded on film for the merriment of my family forever. (Pity the photos didn't last as long as the groom, which was a matter of months. ::snerk!::)

Good Lord, could I get any further off topic?

Back to the Nuru Exercise Anywhere Cards: I have a couple of sets available for two lucky readers. All you have to do is GET UP and do some sort of exercise (yes, you may count walking to the mailbox and back as long as it's more than 25 steps away). Then report in and let me know what you did to move your body.

Contest is open until Sunday (April 19th), midnight, central US time. I'll ship them anywhere humans deliver, so international folks are welcome, too! De-lurkers get two entries.

Thank you to the Nuru People for providing the cards and for eventually getting them to me. ;)

Second Feature, two shorts:
For those of you who like to keep your goals in plain sight, these goal boards (via unclutterer) are cute. Unfortunately, I don't have a giveaway for them, but you can't win 'em all, can you?

And an article published a few weeks ago on DLM that I forgot to link here, Seven Dieting Mistakes You Don't Know You're Making, is a really good checklist of things to watch out for when trying to lose weight.

Sheesh. so much typing! I think I need to go soak my fingers in ice. (Hey! I heard that, whoever made reference to soaking my head! Not funny. Okay, it was, a little.)

I hope you've all had a marvelous Saturday and that the trend continues on Sunday!


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