Looking back and forward

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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.

Review: Skinny Jane 7 Day Quick Start

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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.