weight loss

Review: Ozeri WeightMaster Digital Bath Scale with BMI and Weight Differential Detection

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I try to avoid the scale. I know, weight is a measure of health (so they say), and there’s a scale hop required at every doc’s visit and one at the physical therapist’s office.  We always had a scale growing up and for some reason were expected to have one.  I didn’t have one during my single days and didn’t care, but for some reason just had to have one once the life with hubs, kids, and dogs started.  For some reason I felt like we needed one.

I hate the scale in general.  It mocks me when I think I look smaller and feel lighter.  It jumps out from under the bed and kicks me in the toe.  It calls to me when I ignore it for too long, taunting me.  Yes, I’m aware it may not happen that way, but it feels like it.

I had the opportunity to move on up to a prettier, less bossy scale and jumped at the chance. The timing was perfect because physical therapy was in full swing and so was my tweaked eating plan.  I figured it wouldn’t hurt to add something else new
to the mix, even if it was as intimidating as a scale. The Ozeri WeightMaster Digital Bath Scale with BMI and Weight Differential Detection has a long name, sleek look,  and nice features.

See, I told you it was attractive.

See, I told you it was attractive.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the package is how attractive the scale is. This baby is a nice-looking slab of
tempered glass with non-slip pads that are gentle on my hardwood floor.  It came with batteries (nice) and clear instructions on
setting up separate profiles for multiple users.  The Weight Differential Detection tracks changes from your last weigh in,
and averages of the last three and seven weigh-ins.  How cool is that?  I like this feature because I can accurately track my
results alone.  Granted I had to teach the family to switch between profiles, but that was no biggie – when they paid attention.

The WeightMaster accepts weight up to 400 pounds.  I don’t want to need that weight limit, but it’s nice to have that option.  It also measures Body Mass Index (BMI), but honestly I try to ignore BMI measures myself because it doesn’t paint a clear picture of health.
I do love the Color Alert Technology which displays a green light for a loss and red light for gain.  If I wanted to gain weight, I might find this annoying.  But I’m all about gains in health and losses in fat and pants size.

I almost bought a different scale, but am glad the Ozeri WeightMaster fell into my lap.  Not only is it accurate (compared to the doc’s scale) and attractive, it’s engineered and manufactured in the USA.  More companies need to stay here instead of trying to move out of the country (I’m  looking at you, Burger King). Ozeri stands behind their products with a 100% Hassle-Free Satisfaction Guarantee. Pick up the WeightMaster in (black or white) or check out Ozeri’s other scales.  I won’t get on the scale more often, but when I do, it will be the WeightMaster.

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.

Review: Yacon Syrup is delicious!

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Hello.   I’m Sherrie and I issues with sugar.  By issues I mean a deep love of it. Too much of it at times.  According to my mom, I went after sugary goodness with a vengeance as a baby. Before I was two, I snagged my Easter basket and took out the chocolate bunny when I was supposedly napping. She said I was working on the jelly beans when I was caught.

See, I told you I had a problem.

I’m on the lookout for low-glycemic alternative sweeteners that will hold up in baking and have minimal aftertaste no matter how it’s used.  I like stevia, but hubs and the kids don’t care for it.  Right on time, I was offered a bottle of V3 Life & Food Pure Premium Raw Organic Yacon Root Syrup.  While hubs was skeptical after hearing the reported benefits, I was happy to give it a shot.

yacon syrupHave you tried Yacon Syrup?

It’s making the rounds as a fantastic metabolism-boosting weight loss wonder.  It’s another new-to-us food from Peru that’s reported to have amazing benefits.

V3 Life & Food Pure Premium Raw Organic Yacon Root Syrup is certified organic, non gmo, soy and gluten-free, and a delicious low-glycemic sweetener.  It contains prebiotics and probiotics that support healthy digestion, has only 13 calories per teaspoon, and reportedly boosts the metabolism.   Other reported benefits include increased fiber intake, lower blood sugar, and  weight loss.  The Dr. Oz Show aired a feature on yacon syrup in November 2013 after looking into the hype and conducting a 28 day experiment.   Of the 40 participants who completed the challenge, 73% lost weight and 68% recommended it as a weight loss tool.   I wasn’t interested in the syrup as a weight loss aid and only tried it as a low-glycemic sweetener.

v3 yacon syrup nutrition label

It tastes like a cross between honey and molasses and adds a richness that honey doesn’t have.  I enjoyed it in hot tea, unsweetened soy milk (hot, cold, and blended with cocoa powder), drizzled on homemade soy yogurt and berries, coffee with a little coconut milk creamer, and in my morning acv and lemon juice drink.  I don’t know if it had an effect on my metabolism, but I do know that the flavor definitely had an effect on me.  I will keep it on hand for use in recipes calling for agave nectar or honey without hesitation.  I have a few muffin recipes calling my name now.  Pumpkin spice muffins are good any time of year.

Get your bottle of Life & Food Organic Yacon Root Syrup directly from Life & Food’s shop or Amazon.  No matter where you get it, give it a try and let me know what you think.

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.

Endless pool + migraine = bad idea

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Happy Migraine Wednesday.

I’m two days in and not feeling fine.  I went to my regularly scheduled aquatic therapy session this morning and kept it at 45 minutes.  It felt pretty good even though my head was spinning.

This is part of my old habit of not listening to the inner voice that tells me to stop.  Ignoring it is rarely a good idea. 

Fast forward to 6:15 pm and I’m about done.  We’d planned a short workout at our potential new gym, but I don’t think I can make it. Yeah, it’s an early bedtime for Sherrie tonight.

Hope your Wednesday is better.

Stormy Weather

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Just call me the human barometer.

A nasty thunderstorm popped up a little over an hour ago.  I knew it was coming because I felt it in my bones.  My already sore knee and ankle went into overdrive.  Pain that burns, tingles, and feels numb at once.  Then my shoulder decided to join in.  The day went from awesome to holy crap in just a few hours.  The plan before the flare was to get some cooking and organization going.  It hasn’t changed,  but the timetable has.  Instead of going nuts in there, I’ll tackle cooking today and finish organizing over the weekend.   Listening to my body makes a huge difference in my good and bad days.  I hope you listen to yours.

What are you up to?  How’s the weather where you are?  No matter what it’s like,  I hope you have a great weekend.

This week so far – not a bad one

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Happy Thursday!  How goes your week so far?  It’s up and down here for sure.  I’m reading as much as I can about Fibromyalgia and, of course, grabbing another cookbook from the library.

unprocessed

I’m also testing products to review.

soulful

Soulful Essence rocks!

While on a three day juice cleanse.

suja lemonade suja green suja nutz

And I was so happy to receive my Beachbody order two days earlier than expected.

piyo 3 day

I cannot wait to be cleared by the physical therapist so I can start!

And then I discovered desktop issues.  So much for my Wednesday afternoon plans.

And today (hopefully) we’ll get by the North Charleston Farmer’s Market.

park circle

How’s your week going?

The Charleston County Library Rocks!

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Do you go to the library often?  I go at least monthly and am amazed by the wealth of goodness every time.  There are movies, music, magazines, art, and of course books of all topics just ready and waiting for me.  I mean, everyone.

I'll hit the library more often than the bookstore for new inspiration.

This is just a sample of the plant-based selection.  If your location doesn’t have what you want, reserve it and have it brought there.

Healthy lifestyle topics are available, too.

Healthy lifestyle topics are available, too.

I’m on my way over now to return and pick up more reading material.   And I’ll drop a few more entries in the Adult Summer Reading Contest.  Maybe I’ll catch you there.  

Reading helps me relax, and relaxation is required on my wellness journey.   Nice, eh?

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.

  

Happy Herbivore Light & Lean is coming!

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I’ve made no secret of my love for Happy Herbivore Lindsay Nixon.  I found the blog while searching for cleaner and lighter vegan alternatives for the food I love.  Her cookbooks are my go-to when someone asks me for healthy recipes and I’ve picked up her meal plans from time to time.  Her twists on Southern favorites are loved by the omni family, too, and as I’ve mentioned before, pleasing the man and boy is not always easy.

When Lindsay made the announcement about her newest book, I pre-ordered it (In March) and scored!  I receive an excerpt with 14 recipes and a bonus book.

Happy Herbivore Light & Lean includes more of the low fat,whole food vegan recipes I love and workout plans. If you pre-ordered,you’ve seen some of the goodness this book has in store.  The Meatloaf Bites and Carol’s Cabbage Soup are particularly yummy.  If you’re looking for something sweet, her Blueberry Yogurt Muffins are a delight.  Pair one with fruit or hash browns for breakfast, snag one for a snack with coffee or tea, or have it for dessert.  

For the blog tour, I asked Lindsay three questions about her her favorite forms of exercise and her advice for someone new to the clean plant-based way of eating.  

Me:  In your blog you mention snowboarding a lot.  Besides hitting the board, what is your favorite type
of exercise?

LN: I go hiking almost every day when it’s not winter. I also really enjoy yoga year-round.

Me:  That’s great!  I love yoga, too. Finding activities I love helps me look at exercise as fun and not a chore. Now on to making a change in general.  Do you have any advice for someone just making the change from a sedentary lifestyle and SAD to active and whole food plant-based?  Should he/she go all in or take it one step at a time?

LN:  I can’t recommend the meal plans enough!  Or my 3-day reboot or 10-day cleanse immersion 
 program. Every person is different. I find most people have the best success doing
 a 180-approach, just rip off the band aid, as I say. Other people need a more gradual approach. Make every meal you can a healthy plant-based one, and start walking on your lunch break. Start with 5 minutes if you have to, then add on. Then start walking in the morning before work. Little by little!

Me:  I thought I was a 180-degree person, but with the family I’ve found it easier to make gradual changes. Converting their favorite recipes is sometimes a challenge.  Have you converted all of your favorite foods into whole food goodness?  How difficult was it?

LN:  Yes! Some recipes proved more challenging than others but for the most part everything has translated quite beautifully and many times, I like the new healthy version way better.

Appreciate your time, Lindsay – thanks!

While I recover and figure out how to get into a sustainable workout routine, eating clean helps me keep on track.  If you want affordable, easy, clean, quick, and delicious recipes with wide appeal, check out the Happy Herbivore blog and books.  Light & Lean is going to be awesome!  Get a sneak peek on Amazon and keep your eyes open for more from me on the recipes.