Oh The Crazy Things We Try to Get Skinny

It's been nearly three weeks since I put my IUD in, and I had it taken out yesterday (Thursday).  I am 40 years old with 4 children.  Plus, every time I get serious about my weight loss, I end up pregnant.  So, this IUD was a safety precaution.

Why, do you ask?  Well, 7 years ago, when I got serious about losing weight, I had 2 kids and was told I pretty much couldn't have children.  The doctors couldn't tell me why, just that I couldn't seem to conceive.  I considered myself blessed that I had 2 children and went on with my life.  When the youngest (at the time) was in school full time, I devoted myself to getting healthy.  I was working out about 3 hours per day, watching what I ate, and I lost 78 pounds.  The minute my body broke the 200 lb mark (like the DAY I weighed in at 199 lbs) I discovered I was pregnant.  Gah!

Yeah, I know lots of women work out and have healthy pregnancies.  But my body doesn't work that way.  I spent pretty much 4-6 months either sick or exhausted, or both, resulting in me being in bed much of my pregnancy.  My only goal was not to gain 50 lbs like I had with the others.  I did.

About 4-5 months after the third child was born, I decided it was time to get all this weight off. I'd had a taste of the healthy lifestyle and I wasn't going to let one major setback stop me from achieving my goals.  When Courtney was 6 months, I discovered I was pregnant. AGAIN.  So much for me not being able to conceive.  OR that I couldn't conceive over the weight of 200 lbs.

Needless to say, here I am, trying to lose weight AGAIN and I don't want a third disruption.  Plus, I'm old enough and I have enough kiddos.  I'm good (Although truth be told: I'd adopt a cutie with Down syndrome in a heartbeat if I could.  My experience with Jake has been completely gratifying).

OK, so back to my monologue.  I've tried the IUD.  It didn't work.  I'm not deterred.  It's now up to my hubby to take care of  'things' in the baby-proofing department.

I, on the other hand, am busy trying to re-gain what was lost due to three weeks laying in bed in the fetal position wishing someone could rip out my uterus.

Somewhere along the way, several members of my family have jumped onto the 'getting healthy' bandwagon.  My sister and I both decided to try a new supplement.  I tried the Caralluma Fimbriata, and she tried the Forskolin (both by the same brand: VidaTribe).

My supplement, the Caralluma Fimbriata, claimed to support appetite control, enhance fat metabolism, and support weight management.  The instructions were to take 2 capsules per day. After nearly two weeks of trying this product, I can say that it does help with appetite control, though it doesn't diminish any cravings (of course I'm on my period right now, so my cravings have been amplified about 1500%).  I didn't notice any aftertaste, nasty flavored burps, or unnecessary sweating.  Though I cannot tell you definitively whether or not this worked on fat metabolism or weight management support, I CAN tell you that I have not done any significant amount of exercise for nearly three weeks.  I weighed myself yesterday and peeked through my fingers to see what the weight-gain damage had been.  Believe it or not, I've only added 4 lbs.  That is with NO exercise, eating out more often than eating in, and living a virtually sedentary life.  You decide whether or not these pills are worth the investment or not.


Forskolin:  I didn't try these because the descriptions on the bottle said they did essentially the same thing as my Caralluma Fimbriata and I wanted to be able to give a definitive review of each, so I had my sister try these supplements and see what she thought of them. She told me that her experience had been that it helped a little bit with suppressing her appetite but didn't see any difference in her weight loss as of yet.


Be prepared!  Now that I'm no longer in pain, I'm ramping up my weight loss efforts!  More to come!!


*These items were received for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

Working Out Has Become a Family Affair

Summer has been crazy around here.  Much of it has been geared around sports and working out.  I am on my weight-loss journey, trying to lose as much weight as possible and training for a triathlon in September.  My oldest daughter is a college track athlete training for the upcoming year after a particularly devastating freshman year which involved heart surgery and a tumor on the pituitary gland.  My oldest son is an upcoming Sophomore in high school and is training for basketball and track.  And my husband has decided to jump on the bandwagon and get more active as well.

All of this training and working out has enabled us opportunities to try a bevy of new products to report back to you.


Wrist Wraps: We purchased wrist wraps which were primarily designed to help with weight lifting.  However, we quickly discovered (after talking to my oldest daughter) that these are particularly helpful if you are a shot putter.  She informed me that when she used the wraps, it automatically added distance to her throw.  Nathan, quickly grabbed one of the two pairs for himself, and we gave the second set to KC (the husband) to use for weight.  What we truly did NOT expect to discover, was that our youngest son with Down syndrome became obsessed with these wraps as well.

Jacob has always had certain sensory issues where he likes to take objects like string, yarn, or rope and tie them around his arms and neck.  I have no idea what sort of sensory feedback he gets from doing that, but it's an issue in our house, and after a particularly scary incident involving yarn, it means I don't do any knitting around our house.

Anyway, we quickly discovered, that Jake LOVES to have the wristwraps put around his wrists.  Nathan wraps them (they go nearly up to his little elbows) and velcros them, and Jake is happy as a clam!  He has even ransacked Nathan's room to find them and bring them to his big brother to request that they be wrapped around his arms.


Chalk Block:  Normally chalk is found in powder form in buckets.  However, we were able to test blocks of chalk with are particularly helpful when you are travelling.  For us, that meant that we could bring a block of chalk with us to the school when practicing shot put, rather than a zip lock bag, or forgoing the chalk all together due to how messy it is. Nathan said it was really soft, and went on pretty easy, but unlike the powdered stuff, you need to remember to put on lots of it, or crumble it in order to get enough chalk on your hands. Grade: A-

Testosterone Boost Supplement:  We have several supplements each family member is in the process of trying for various reasons.  One of the first supplements my husband tried was a Testosterone Boost Supplement.  He told me that the supplement was pretty good, and gave him energy, but it reacted with some of his gout prescriptions and gave him an upset stomach.  He would liked to have tried it Grade:  B (be careful if you're taking meds for gout - otherwise it's worth a try)
longer to see if he experienced more than just "more energy".

Pulse Massager:  When all the hard work is done, the husband and kids, run for the ElectroTherapy Massager.  It's become a staple in our post-workout activities.  Usually one, or all of them sit down at various times during the evening and place the pads on various muscles that have been hit hard by their trainer and let the massager work it's magic.  Though I would STRONGLY suggest turning the remote down to the lowest possible setting before turning it on.  It huts like a bugger if you turn it on at full blast!  They choose one of eight settings (Nate likes #2.  It reminds him of the massage chair at the chiropractor), then sets the timer, the level of intensity, and let it do it's magic.  We've already had to order new pads because I know the set we have now won't last this high usage much longer.
Grade: A

Scale: Finally, the latest addition to our happy health-conscious home has been a brand new scale! (I used the manufacturer's picture because A - my feet don't look that cute, and B-you can't see the numbers when I take a pic).  I'm very excited about this scale for several reasons.  First off, it connects to my smart phone, so the App will track my progress.  Secondly, it is smaller, thinner, and lighter than my old scale, which is important because space in our bathroom is at a premium.  Third, there are settings for each of our family members - so I can input my info including goal weight, age, gender, activity, etc and the scale will keep it and use it to create an accurate account of weight, fat, etc.  Plus, everyone else can do the same.  And fourth, it tells me I weigh less than my old scale!  Hahahaha!  I noticed the old scale was off when I went into my OBGYN several times over the last couple weeks and their scale kept telling me I weighed as much fully clothed as MY scale says I weigh buck naked.  Talk about an ego boost. Buy a new scale. Automatically weigh less! Yes!!!  Grade:  A+

*I received each of these products for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review of each item

Book Review: The Secret to Successful Dieting

I've been working on weight loss for years now.  Twenty, to be exact.  That's how many years I've been a mom.  I began my first real weight loss attempt right after my oldest was born and I'd gained 60 lbs from Pre-Eclampsia and a month of bed rest.

In those 20 years I've tried lots of diets, exercise regimes, and read more books on the subject than I'd care to admit.  In many regards, I'd consider myself an expert, or at the very least well read on the subject.  But I'm not so full of myself to think that I know it all.  So, when I have a chance, I try to read an occasional diet and/or fitness book to see if there is anything new they can contribute to my knowledge base.


I was offered the chance to preview The Secret to Successful Dieting: Lose Weight and Live Well By Nancy N. Wilson  for free in exchange for an honest opinion.

It's a relatively short read that can be completed in a couple of hours or less if you aren't distracted.  Which means it took me a week (darn kids! lol).  This book was created specifically for yo-yo dieters like myself.  It was filled with several suggestions and ideas on what to do differently in order to make our next attempt at getting healthy (not dieting) a success.

I especially liked the 80/20 rule which said you don't have to adhere to your diet perfectly in order to experience success.  And I liked that no single weight-loss program was endorsed.  In fact, the author emphasized that many programs will work, depending on your special circumstances or health needs.
She wasn't extreme in her thinking, and she used common sense, which is often lost somewhere along the line during the desperation of trying to lose weight.

Links to resources and products she's used to find success were available in the e-book, as well websites, and explanations as to why her suggestions would work.

After all this time, I was still able to glean a few gems of information from this book that I will be able to use in my endeavors to live a healthier life.

I would give this book a B+

3 Supplements that help get the Boulder of Weight Loss Moving

Crazy to think how long I've been working on my weight loss already.d  The process is slow.  I've likened it to trying to push a boulder down a hill.  You push and you shove as hard as you can and see only a few inches of progress.  Sometimes you need to let the boulder rock backward so that you can create enough momentum to shove the rock further forward.  Soon, the inch turns to a few inches, slowly increasing speed until the mass of stone is rolling out of control and there is nothing you can do to stop it, so you might as well step out of the way and let the boulder run its course.

Sadly, I'm still rocking back and forth at the top, trying to gain enough momentum to get the perpetual forward motion I need to be an absolute success.

Lately, I've tried three different supplements: another Garcina Cabrogia (95%), Tumerex, and D3 Caplets. All of them excellent quality.

Let's start with the Garcinia Cambrogia.  How  this different from the other version I tried earlier?  This one is a higher concentration of Garcinia. The other was 70% and this one is 15% higher.  And since I'm taking supplements by the handfuls, I'm always open to ways to minimize the amount of pulls I need to take in a day.  By taking these, I was able to get them same results with less pills and that makes it a supplement worth using.  Plus, I quit taking the Garcinia Cambogia cold turkey when i went camping this weekend and my husband can attest to the fact that I was GRUMPY the whole week.  I'm just sayin'...  Grade:  A

The Tumerex was new for me.  I wasn't sure what to expect from this supplement because I'd never used it before.  But I read research that said it was tied to a variety of different health benefits. Though most of those elements are hard to quantify  - ie jaundice, gallbladder, heartburn, fibromyalgia, leprosy, etc.  What I did find was less swelling in my joints, less constipation, and VERY yellow stool.  This is something I am interested in using to completion to see if I experiencing any other positive side effects.  Grade: A-

D3 Caplets:  I took these because my doctor told me that the D3 helped me to absorb my calcium better.  Again, this is not quantifiable, aside from all the medical research available.  What I can tell you is how small the pill was.  Here is a picture of my Calcium supplement (left), The Garcinia Cambogia supplement (middle) and the Vitamin D3 caplet on the right.  Soooooo small!  I want to paint it yellow and call it a minion! Grade: A+  I've got nothing negative to say about these itty bitties. :)



OH And before you leave...I'm having another give away!!!!

Island's Miracle (the maker of the Garcinia Cambrogia) is so confident you'll like their product (and I'm so impressed I'm happy to personally endorse it) they're giving a free bottle of Garcinia Cambrogia away!!

Like My Facebook Page  and you'll  be entered to win a free bottle.  I'll announce the winner on Friday 07/24/15.  It's just one click!!



*Each of these products was received for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion

Tri Tri Again..On To The Next Phase of Triathlon Training

Phase two of the triathlon training, and the phase that I fear most, is swimming. I'm going to have to get my big ol' butt into a swimsuit and into the water to swim 400-500 yards. I am pretty sure that at this moment in time, I would be hard pressed to crawl stroke 20 yards without keeling over with a stomach cramp. I imagine myself going under and them having to retrieve me with some big hook, or swimming to safety with floaties, a life jacket, and a life ring attached to me. Don't laugh. This is a real concern of mine! Seriously. Sniff, sniff.


 If you're running and get a cramp, you walk. If you're biking and your legs tire, you stop. If you swim and you become pooped, you sink like a rock to become fish food. Maybe I can have my four-year-old be my swimming partner. I'm pretty sure he could tow me if necessary, right?

 In all seriousness, I am going to face this nonsensical fear of mine head on. I have my rubber cap, I have a swimsuit I can wear...with a tank top and shorts to cover it so that no small children are scarred in the process of the experience, goggles, and I'm testing a waterproof Ipad cover for music while I'm swimming. I read somewhere that a person increases their endurance by at least 20% if they're listening to music while working out. I can attest to that statistic because I work out much longer and harder/faster when I have a good beat to to concentrate on. When I first began training for a triathlon, 7 years ago, I purchased waterproof headphones and case off Bay. I used them a total of once before I got pregnant and fought morning sickness for the next couple months. I never did return to the pool. Now that I'm ready to get back onto the proverbial horse again, I have upgraded my phone a few times and the old case no longer works for me. The new one, however, fits like a charm. It seems to be made of sturdy construction, and has enough 'breathing room' that I won't have to invest a bunch of money in yet another waterproof cover in December when my 2 year cellphone contract is up in December and I upgrade. Overall Grade: A-


But that doesn't mean I'm not taking my running and biking seriously.  I'm still cranking out the miles on the trails (in spite of the gnarly blisters), and I've installed LED bike lights on my bike so that I can ride when it's darker (and cooler).  Now, I'm not saying I've invested a ton of money in a thin-tired road bike with the itty bitty bike seat that is hard as a rock and rides up your butt like the wedgie from Hades.  No.  I am a purely recreational biker at this point who ownes a thick-wheeled trail bike with a wide "granny" seat with foam padding, a wire basket in the front, and is heavy as sin.  I prefer to think of my bike as more along the lines of  "resistance training". But I digress...I had my son add some LED lights to my bike so I can ride when it's cooler.  He said they were easy to install and 'TOTALLY' bright.  He was pretty impressed.  And with the red, it will cut through the dusk light and enable me to be much easier to see as I'm cutting through the darkness back to my home.  Overall Grade:  A



*I received both these products for free in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion

Mac X Video Converter Pro Winners

Mac X Video Converter Pro

In case you didn't know, I spend a LOT of time on the computer.  Either it's blogging, or (attempting) to work on my YouTube page, writing books, downloading pics and videos on my Non-profit page, mystery games page, whatever.  I spend a LOT of time on the computer. 

One of the things I've been starting to transition into is more YouTube reviews and move videos.  In comes the Mac X Video Converter Program.  

Mac X is available for both Mac or Windows-based computers and provides the ability to convert pictures or videos into files that can be downloaded onto YouTube or onto a DVD. 

It's a simple interface that lets you download video from the internet from places like Vevo, YouTube, Facebook (my favorite because I can NEVER seem to capture Facebook videos to save my life!), etc. You can edit videos, make slide shows, etc. with this program too.  

As a way of saying 'thank you' to everyone who has religiously followed all my posts, tweets, snapshots, videos, etc.  we are spreading the joy and giving away several copies of this program so that you can get a taste of how cool these products are that I've been testing.  

Here's to hoping you continue to follow us, tell your friends, and sign up for MORE contests!

Thanks!

Susan