Fruit for a healthy you.

Hello, awesome readers!

I will say, out of nowhere I have been getting products and all kinds! I am pleased to get them of course! I just like to be really good about getting up a review in a timely manner. I am anal like that :)

Us Virgo's run a tight ship, if you know what I mean. With this being said. I have been eating like a freak! Making my friends and co workers try out things as well to help me out. I will say, so far so good. I haven't gotten anything recently that I didn't like. I got a small package from Traverse Bay Farms on Wednesday and was happy to see three things that I know for sure I could put to use. Peach Salsa (one of my fav's), Cherry Salsa and Tart Cherry Joint Formula supplement (I can REALLY use this). I knew just what to do when I got it!

SALSA PARTY!

Ok, not that kind of Salsa!!!

This kind!

Here is what the variety looks like!

They sent me two kinds of salsa and I made two things with each! I used the peach salsa for the amazing nachos (1st PLACE - 2008) and I used the cherry salsa for another dinner over the weekend. Just look at it! MMMMMMMM.

I am not going to toot my own horn...Ok, yes I will ;)

I am a amazing cook darnit and I will say I think of ways to cut calories like no body's business. If you want to slash some cals...USE SALSA. I use salsa instead of salad dressings (I like to add some siracha or hot sauce because salsa's are never hot enough for me). I use salsa for dipping raw veggies instead of ranch. I use salsa for marinades instead of sauces. I LOVE salsa and I am proud to say, I really liked this one. I used the salsa as the perfect topping for my baked chicken. You can just spoon it on top or you can actually pour it on top of the chicken for a built in flavorful dinner. Love. At. First. Bite.

I mean...look at this. Salsa (most of them) are around 10-30 cals. This is a GREAT substitute! Of course on my chicken and nachos (I shared those by the way) I used way more than 2 table spoons but still 100 cals of good for you salsa is way better than some chemical ridden ranch dressing. Just sayin.

Fruit and Gourmet Salsas: Traverse Bay Farms' Fat-Free Fruit and Gourmet Salsas are a mouth-watering combination of traditional tomato-based salsa and fresh tangy fruit, corn or black beans.. Our salsas are made in small batches with fresh fruits and vegetables. Each of our fruit salsas are "medium spicy", and we offer six distinct gourmet fruit flavors You will love the homemade gourmet salsa taste from Traverse Bay Farms! They offer a ton of organic products on their site!

The other product that they sent me I was VERY happy to see. I use join supplements but I just don't feel like they work well. I am a runner, dancer, walker and weight lifter. I need to take good care of my joints! I have only been taking this for a few days so I will have to give you a real update when I truly know what the verdict is. I don't lie on this blog, I either like it or don't! I am not sure yet. I think that with all the hoopla about it though it should be good! I can say that the other one that I was taking did absolutely nothing. I had no idea that cherry's was such a wonder fruit.

Equals the specific antioxidant benefits of 5+ glasses of cherry juice without the sugar!
Helps Maintain Healthy Joint Function*
Helps Supports a Healthy Cardiovascular System*
Less than 1 gram of sugar and carbohydrates per serving
Kosher, Gluten-Free and Vegan Friendly
Delivers the highest amount of tart cherry available (1200mg per 2 capsule serving)
Produced in an FDA registered facility that uses Good Manufacturing Process (GMP)

Any all natural product in my book is good! I am just glad that I can read every ingredient on the salsa and supplement. That is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. I just told my mom the other day...."If you cant read it, you cant eat it!" An update on her is well over due but I am sorry to say that she is still not doing that well. I am trying to keep the blog as positive as possible but this is not just a happy go lucky blog "I love this, I love that!" I am real. I have a life, and things happen just like anyone else. It sure helps though when you get nice comments and you get nice things in the mail. I am serious...I don't know what I would do without the blog at times. It keeps me busy and honestly financially helps with my food. I love trying out new things and my clients and friends would rather me try it out and tell them about it instead of them wasting cash on a product that isn't good or doesn't work. Just call me "Ginny Pig Heather". Well, I like Ginny Heather better than the pig part ;)

I give Traverse Bay Farms two thumbs up! Thanks Andy for sending me some goodies!

This was pretty cool too!

have a number of free down loadable ebooks that would
be of interest to your readers.
Here is link to download them:
www.traversebayfarms.com/healthylivingconfirmation.htm

You gotta love a free ebook!

Go to their site and see all that they have to offer, you may be surprised!

www.traversebayfarms.com

Traverse Bay Farms; products are available in grocery, health food and gourmet food stores in 44 states across America. If you would like to purchase Traverse Bay Farms products from your local store Click Here.

Thanks again for putting a little salsa in my step! I hope you guys like the idea of using salsa instead of sauces, dressings and dips! Add extra veggies and make it as chuncky as you like! I PROMISE that next week will not be review after review. I like to tell you what is going on in my life and show you my eats WITH recipes! Thank you to all the company's that have been so sweet to me this last week. I really needed it and even though you may not know me I meant it from the bottom of my heart....you made my week.

See you Monday, bright and early with what went on during my weekend. I am teaching a two hour long work-shop on positive thinking and then active meditation with yoga thrown in! My first ever AND it is going to be held in my hometown. They desperately need something like this. My home town doesn't have a yoga studio or even side walks. No recycling bins and people stare at you when you ride a bike or run. How in the world did I ever come from there. I guess with a open mind, anything is possible. The best part....I am doing it for free!!! I hope to do a free monthly workshop for the folks in the "town of etiquette!" Any donations will be going to the Heart Association (since my mom is having heart related issues.) I hope you all have a relaxing weekend! Wait! It IS the weekend! Whew, I need to get on with it! See ya!

-Heather

Boomi Boomi Power!

Gooooood Morning my friends and what a good morning it is! I am feeling MUCH better today. You know, sometimes you when you are down you have got to remind yourself of all the postive things that are in your life. Even the little ones ;) Thanks so very much for your kind words. Ok, lets get started! Sit back guys and gals, this is going to be a long post!

I got this package the other day!
Minus another box (I got so excited that I snapped this without realizing that there was another box in the package! Sorry!
Here's some of the loot!

It came from a company called:

Boomibars are designed to give you an energy and nutrition boost. Packed with fruits, healthy nuts, protein and fiber these bars are both tasty and healthy. Keep a few bars handy as a meal re-placer and energy booster whether you’re doing a yoga workout, hiking trip, school, cycling, work, or for mountain climbing. We hope you enjoy our tasty and healthy power packed nutrition bars that excel in taste and goodness for your body.

I have never tried the Boomi Bars. I was delighted to get a package from Divine Foods. I am so thankful because this morning I was running late and had no time for breakfast...So a Boomi Bar went into my purse and out the door I went. After getting in the car and on my way to do errands before work I was starving once I had arrived at my desk....Then I remembered! The Boomi Bar was in my bag! "Yes!" I thought. I was saved by this beauty! Of course the one that I picked was the Apricot/Cashew bar....It was fabulous! I was very surprised at the ingredients! Cashews, Apricots, Honey, Dates, Crisp Rice, Amaranth, Apples, Natural Apricot Flavor, Salt. That is what I like to see on a label. INGREDIANTS THAT I CAN PRONOUNCE! YAY! I have to say, back in my day, I was a "bar" fanatic. I use to live off those things. Then once I changed to a "clean diet" out went the chemical, sugar filled bars. Yes, they may have done the job for the hour I was hungry but it was nothing compared to this bar at all! Once done, I wished that there were like 3 more! I did however notice the immediate boost I got and it filled me up for two whole hours! Just so you know...Boomie bars range from 210-270 cals. I LOVE having a 300 calorie or under snack....PERFECT.

You may say "two hours????" My body is going to be hungry in two to three hours no matter what. I have trained it to be that way. I eat every two to three hours for years now. Something that can hold me over though until my next "meal" is a keeper! I often find myself trying new snacks or "meals" and just after a hour I am starving again. Nope, this was not the case with these bars. I got several different bars so you will have to stay tuned to hear about each flavor as I try them out! Something tells me though that they all will be amazing. Just the names of them seem to be perfect! They have so many different flavors...you are sure to like one if not ALL of them. They totally get 4 stars from me. The only problem is....I am hooked!!! While I was at the health food store last night...I found them! I never knew what they were before finding this company on-line (looked for raw food bars) and now I know exactly where they are in the store. See...sometimes sending a sample to a girl like me can turn into a shopping monster! I tried to take a picture of the Boomi Bar in action on the shelf but I got in trouble and had to put the camera away :(

People in Athens should know that I am a foodie and have to take photo's of everything! I will admit though it sure makes it easier when a company tells me I can use their photos though, thanks Jessica!

All in all these bars are chewy, chunky, filling, and the perfect pre-work out or post-work out snack. I LOVE that they are gluten free and vegan! I am neither one of those but hey, if I can have something gluten free or vegan I will take it any day!

On to Prana Bars! They have the orginal but they are Introducing the SUPERCHARGER Bars now!

FOR A LIMITED TIME GET $20 OFF A SAMPLER PACK
They're here! Four new exciting flavors of the PranaBar supercharged with antioxidants flavors :
Blueberry Coconut
Goldenberry Goji
Mango Maca
Raspberry Pomegranate

I have already tried the Blueberry and the Raspberry. Oh so goooood! I put them in the fridge and like them cold. They are so chewy and I LOVE coconut so I was in love with the Blueberry flavor. I think that these bars rock as well. The super chargers range from 180-230 cals. Yet again, under 300 cals! The Orginal is just as good as the super charge ones too. They range from 190-220 cals. I would go for the super charge variety if I needed that extra boost in my day. Either way which ever bar you choose, your going to love em!

Please go to their site and see all the bars for your self! You will be overwhelmed with the offers right now and the variety that they have. I will be posting my thoughts on the other flavors as I try them so expect to be hear a lot about these bars!

http://www.pranabarstore.com/

Divine Foods are also excited to announce that PranaBar has launched an Affiliate program this December! They wanted me to be one their first affiliates to help spread the word about this tasty, nutritious and healthy gluten-free product.As you already know, Divine Foods is an all-natural energy bar manufacturer, family owned and operated. Divine Foods manufacturing facility is free of wheat, cane sugar, GMO’s, meat, eggs and peanuts ensuring our products are gluten-free, soy-free and vegetarian.

Divine Foods manufactures two lines of all-natural energy bars that are superior in taste and contain no artificial additives, preservatives or sweeteners. Divine Foods’ Boomi Bars are 100% all-natural, gluten-free and contain no GMO, sulphured fruits or hydrogenated oils. We have 13 great Boomi Bars varieties. Our Prana Bars are certified organic and gluten-free. We sweeten them with Organic Agave nectar for great taste. We have 6 great Prana Bar varieties and 4 Different Super Charge Prana Bars.
They are embarking on an few new options for customers such as Auto-Delivery Program, where YOU can receive great discounts, the convience of having bars shipped directly to them on a regular interval! No more having to remember to place an order!
With their affiliate program they will be sharing the idea that satisfying your taste buds with healthy food satisfies both mind and body. Because this program is new a lot of the initial design and concept has come from people who are just like you! So we welcome any feedback you can offer to make the program more successful!

So there you have it folks! A bar that you can actually feel good about eating! Try one out at your local health food store or order on-line and take advantage of the free delivery for re-occurring shipments!

Have a Boomi day! Sorry, I just had to!!! Have a wonderful weekend! Dont be suprised if you dont hear from me before Monday, I am having a hard time staying away!

-Heather

A taste of Italy.

I have never been to Europe. I have always wanted to go to Italy. The food, people and land is amazing I hear. This morning I sure got a taste of what Italy would be like. I want to go!!!

Organic Preserves by San Matteo Farms.

San Matteo Farm is nestled between the enchanting Gulf of Taormina and Mount Etna. The climate is mild and the soil is volcanic and highly fertile. The farm's owner, Carlo Limone, is a passionate and skillful organic farmer. His production is artisanal. He does not use preservatives and instead of using caster sugar he uses wheat syrup. Now do you understand why his fruit preserves are so good? Some of Carlo's preserves and marmalade's incorporate unique combinations of ingredients. Organic Sicilian Orange and Coffee; Organic Apple and Rosemary; Organic Apple and Grapefruit... and then there are the simple pleasure of his 100% Organic Mandarins or 100% Organic Sicilian Oranges. Enjoy on toast or as a condiment with meat or cheese. I got the Apple Rosemary and I have got to tell you. It was amazing! Truly like nothing else I have ever tried.Our preserves use THE BEST available fruits and vegetables... YOUR GRANDMOTHER WOULD BE PROUD! Be it our San Marzano tomatoes from Mount Vesuvius or our capers from the island of Pantelleria, lentils from Umbria's hill plateaus or precious saffron from Abruzzo, we would never be able to resist our desire to search for the best expressions of our preserves patrimony. This is just gorgeous! I opened the jar and was absolutely amazed by the aroma. They weren't kidding! It was so chuncky and I decided this morning that fresh baked bread with the preserves would be the way to go.

It is often thought that Italians don't eat sweets. While it is true they don't normally end a meal with a rich dessert, Italians tend to take their sweets away from the table...at a pastry shop or cafe. In fact, Italians eat sweets all day long: marmalade or preserves thickly spread on bread for breakfast; a mid-morning brioche with "granita" or a "cornetto" filled with custard or jam; afternoon coffee accompanied by some cookies; and of course there's "gelato" eaten during the evening "passeggiata"..... so , Italians really do have a sweet tooth.It's no wonder then, that some of the most extraordinary fruit preserves, syrups, chocolate spreads and candies are produced in Italy by master chefs and artisans. They use the best local ingredients. At Gustiamo, we've sought out the finest Italy has to offer --- our way of sharing a bit of "La Dolce Vita" with you.

I am glad that I had the bread that was not sweet because it really allowed the Apple Rosemary Preserves to really shine. This is going to be served later with a baguette and cheeses when I get moved into my new house and have a house warming party. I know that it is going to be fantastic!

This company doesn't just have amazing preserves. Just listen to the flavors that they offer: Organic Sicilian Orange and Coffee, Organic Sicilian Mandarin Marmalade, Organic Apple and Grapefruit and Organic Sicilian Orange Marmalade. I am pleased with the Apple Rosemary, I know that the others would be just as amazing! Something else that I wanted to make sure you were aware of is that they don't just offer preserves they have a array of foods. They offer sweets & coffee, oil and vinegar, pasta & rice, seafood and even land foods such as Campania, Sicilia and Emilia Romagna. I would LOVE to try out some of thier other offerings... You have got to check out there site to believe it.

www.gustiamo.com

Thanks to Martina, I was able to try something truly special. I gladly give them two thumbs up and a raving review! Thanks so very much!

Please come back tomorrow for more reviews and packed posts!

I am getting all kinds of goodies and more excited than I have been in a long time.

Ciao!

-Heather

They have done it again!!!

Living Tree Community has done it again! Totally amazed me with the up most amazing products. I got some things in the mail that totally made me tear up. Seriously! I also got to try somethings that I have yet to ever try. One of which was Bee Pollen...I have herd so much about Bee Pollen but have yet to actually try it. Well, I have now!

Bee pollen is the food of the young bee. It consists of forty percent protein and is considered to be a completely nourishing, extremely alkalizing, complete food. It boosts the immune system, increases energy, does wonders for aging skin and is extremely high in antioxidant activity. Our bee pollen is gathered from wildflowers in Sonoma County, California. It is dried at ambient temperature to maintain aliveness.
The bees are under the watchful and caring eye of John Gipson, master beekeeper. He treats them with kindness and respect. He has invented a special kind of trap which stores a part of the pollen the bees bring to the hive. The bees are not harmed. This is in contrast to conventional practice where what's called an "internal trap" is used. All too often the legs and wings of bees are left in the trap along with the pollen. It is sad that a food so alive and health-giving should be produced in this way. The bee pollen sold in stores, nowadays, is from China. It is irradiated upon entry to this country. Sixty years ago it was first demonstrated that there is no safe level of nuclear radiation and modern science is beginning to accept this fact.
Bee pollen is easy to incorporate into our daily lives. It has a rich flavor that can be added to fresh juices and smoothies or just eaten plain. It is best to start out with one tablespoon and increase if you desire.

Superfood Profile: Discover the Health Benefits of Bee Pollen Bee pollen superfood boosts immune system function.

-Asthma

- Indigestion, diarrhea, constipation and other digestive issues

- Anemia

- Low energy and fatigue

- Depression

- Skin conditions such as acne

- Sexual problems

- Hemorrhoids

- Obesity

- Rheumatism and arthritis.
Bee pollen is also useful for improving the health of the heart, prostate, immune system and nervous system.One of bee pollen's many intriguing benefits is its ability to improve allergies. It seems counterproductive to fight pollen allergies with pollen, but bee pollen seems to have an immunizing effect against these reactions.

With all of these benefits, I dug right in! Well, I scooped it out and put it in my smoothie! Wow, I have to say after trying the raw organic almond butter and then the tahini I wasn't surprised by how amazingly fresh and gorgeous this jar was. Just take a look! Peanut buttery banana protein bee pollen shake. WOW!!! Can you say that 10 times???HA! I could seriously feel the difference! I am IN LOVE with this company, I kid you not. I need a t-shirt or something because I would wear it proudly! This smoothie was had right after my work out about two hours before my dinner and I have to say, It really made me feel recharged!

The next product that they sent me and I tried was my favorite!!! CASHEW BUTTER. Ok, Ok, Ok....You know my track record on cashews. You also know that they are the one and only things that I just cant be trusted around. Well, I will say this....It rocked my world! For years people have been asking them to create an alive cashew butter. Now cashews, as you know, are members of the poison ivy family and are surrounded by a toxic husk. They are heated to neutralize the toxin. Recently cashews have become available which are processed using a minimal amount of heat. We used them to make an alive cashew butter.

Raw Cashews made into Alive Cashew Butter

Cashew butter is completely special to me. Cashews themselves are my absolute favorite thing in the world. Seriously. So, as you can imagine when I saw that they really did send me some cashew butter I was ecstatic! This morning I put it to the test! I put it on my Ezekiel english muffin and it was HEAVEN on EARTH!

After all, this was THE BEST I have ever had and each time I took a bite, I closed my eyes and enjoyed every moment. You think I am kidding? Not!

I have Yelped, I have blogged, I have passed around samples and I have linked their site when ever someone says "I want a great raw, healthy product like you eat." By far THE BEST company ever. raw, certified organic cashews begin as choice, fancy grade nuts, These creamy, rich and sweet nuts are hand - cracked, briefly steamed to soften their skin, and then peeled by hand. They are never roasted or touched by boiling water. They are high in Foliate, B Vitamins, Magnesium, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Copper and Potassium. Cashews are naturally low in fat. I love to spread cashew butter on just about anything. You may just be surprised to realize how good this stuff is on vegetables! Try it out some time.

You would think that an amazing company with such amazing products would be totally expensive....Nope! I think for what you are getting it is worth every penny. One pound of raw cashews is $10.95 and a jar of cashew butter is only $11.99 . How can you beat that? Especially when you realize that you are getting the cream of the crop.

The last product that I pulled out of the box was Alive Organic Pistachio Pesto. I was overwhelmed by how good the folks at The Living Tree have been to me. I was just so excited that I got such a wonderful variety and what better time than right before dinner. I hate to say it but all three was used in a matter of 24 hours (not all of course but I totally tried them all!).
All the ingredients came together for your happiness: alive pistachios grown by family farmers in the rich, alluvial soil of California's great Central Valley, sun-dried black olives and sun-dried tomatoes, sesame, aromatic spices and herbs and sea salt, all blended with Living Tree Alive Olive Oil- unfiltered, unheated, UNPRESSED.

Serve on freshly, crunchy vegetables or crackers. Mix one TBS per serving with your favorite pasta, alive soup or finely shredded zucchini or carrots. Go ahead--surprise, delight, and nourish yourself!

We are delighted to bring to you this, our newest and original creation.

The pistachio is the most nutrient dense of all the nuts, conaining high quantities of B essential nutrients, thiamin, vitamin B6, potassium, and lutein, an antioxident for eye health. The pistachio is an anti-oxident powerhouse, containing more cholesterol-lowering phytosterols than any other nut (and more than a cup of green tea!). Pistachios are also among those nuts with the highest fiber--supplying 12% of the daily recommended amount in just one ounce--which aids digestion and management of blood sugar levels. In addition to all these benefits, the pistachio is a low fat and low calorie food compared to other nuts, containing just 3 calories each--and you won't be able to eat too many since each one must be shelled. Pistachios Slash Lung Cancer Risk

The Pesto contains a dash of curry powder. Tumeric is the spice that gives curry its kick. Its a clinically proven antioxidant. For more information on tumeric:
Are You Ready to Add More Spice to Your Life -- and Your Health?
What You Need to Know About Inflammation
Turmeric prevents cancer, particularly leukemia, say researchers
Kitchen Medicine and Potent Anti-Inflammatory: Turmeric

After opening this jar I knew what just had to be done...
It was so simple. All that I did was makes some whole wheat pasta and used the pesto! I mean it, nothing else was needed. It was amazing! How great is that! I was able to make a wonderful filling dinner with two items in my kitchen! Totally worth it. So who is behind all of this alive, organic, fantastic madness???

Jesse Schwartz. The person that I was actually contacted by. Pretty darn impressive if you ask me that the founder himself e-mailed little ol me! I felt honored.

In 1979, Jesse Schwartz, a former college teacher and John Kozack a teacher and administrator with the BioDynamic Farming and Gardening Association of Southern California founded Living Tree Community in Marin County, California. We propagated historic and heirloom fruit trees, including over 80 varieties of old time apple varieties. Through the miracle of grafting we made “photocopies” and propagated them in quantity. We gathered many of these varieties on fruit exploring expeditions in Mendocino County, the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Sierra foothills. We were often guided by old timers who had grown up in the orchards and knew every tree. We brought back from near extinction several early California varieties including Hauer Pippin, Skinner’s Seedling and Pink Pearl, a pink fleshed variety.
We also introduced the Warren pear to California agriculture. It was discovered by T.O. Warren, a distinguished member of the North American Fruit Explorers. He found it in a rural area of Louisiana. He at once noticed something unusual despite the heat and humidity, it was free of fire blight. Its refreshingly sweet taste and fine texture were also exceptional. Family farmer Al Courchesne of Frog Hollow Farms in Brent wood commissioned us to transform an orchard of nondescript pears to Warren Pear. We did so over three years by a sophisticated grafting technique called frame working, joining scions of Warren Pear onto the primary and secondary branches. By leaving the trees intact, we brought them back into full production in less than half the time it would have taken to plant an orchard anew.
Warren Pears
In regard to bringing back heirloom varieties, Thomas Jefferson wisely said, "The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plant to its culture."
In addition to growing trees, we began manufacturing almond butter, which we offered in our tree catalog.

Check out their site: www.livingtreecommunity.com

You will be amazed just like myself at the level of freshness, care and packaging Living Tree puts into their products! I, as I have before, give them 5 stars!!! No higher than that folks! I have a TON of reviews this week so please, please, please stay tuned! On a side note! I could have jumped out of my seat when I was notified that I had a comment on my post yesterday! YAY! Thanks so very much!

-Heather

I just couldnt stay away!

Yesterday I wasn't suppose to be on here at all but I just had to! I love to blog and this weekend I got to watch a movie that I have been hearing about since it came out. It was inspiring. I felt so much like the character in the movie and really enjoyed watching it. Of course Karen and I had a blast. We got in her bed with a box of homemade chocolates that her aunt made, sipped on a drink and laughed out loud. The perfect Sunday evening in my opinion. What movie did I watch? Well, I will show ya! When K and I were in the movie rental store she saw this and said "I have already seen it but you have got to watch this movie, it is perfect for you!" I took her advice being that she works in the movie industry and has great taste. She was totally right.

I have never seen a movie that was about a blogger. Every moment really hit home. One of the quotes that really struck me was "I feel like I am writing into a void...Does anyone read what I am writing?" I feel like this all the time and especially when I started. With rarely any comments, I feel like I am pouring myself into a void at times. I recently was contacted by a company though and I am ranked as #2 as far as PR goes! So that made me happy. Now, if I could just get more people to comment and subscribe. Any ideas on how I could do that? I do give-a-ways when I can and I also comment on other blogs. I am just not sure what else I can do! Anyway, the movie was a hit with me and if you have been waiting for it to hot the stores, go rent it! After watching this movie I crawled into bed and caught up on some of my favorite blogs! I have missed you guys and needed some updates!

Sometimes I don't have much to re-cap after a weekend, however this weekend was eventful and I have lots to share! I don't have a review today (should tomorrow) so this post is going to be all about me and what I did. This is a pretty typical weekend for me except for a few things.

Friday evening after work and a walk I decided I was going out. I will admit, during the winter months, I hibernate. It is so weird. When I feeling like being social I go out all the time and most nights have something to do. However, when I get on a roll of staying in and relaxing, it is a hard cycle to break. Ever since, well....two years ago, I haven't been the fun partying Heather. I am going to open up to you all. I have been in a slump. I work, work out and then call it a night. I sometimes just feel like going out is pointless and ends up leaving me sorry I ever went out in the first place. I spend money, have pointless conversations with the SAME people and just wake up tired and lazy because I stayed out to late. I am 28 and turning 29 this year. I am sure that everyone at some point "grows up" so to speak and calms down a bit. It is tough in a college town though. There is a constant wave of young people coming in and at times I feel old and that I have been there, done that. Friday I said "the heck with that way of thinking, go out and have find some fun!" Another reason why I don't go out is because I am single and most of the times just a little blue about it. Wow, you guys are getting a inside look at me! It happens, I cant always be happy go lucky! Anyway, when I got home I looked in my local news paper and saw that there was something very interesting and free going on. So I hopped in the shower,dressed, slapped on some make-up, ate my dinner and skipped out the door. I went to the UGA music building to watch this! It was absolutely one of the most amazing performances that I have ever seen. I felt as though I was in Japan! Melodic, magical music and I was front row! I was going to go to a movie but after this wonderful event I felt as though that was all that I needed. It was free and I felt as though I just came from a expensive concert hall performance!

Saturday was rainy, cold day. It started raining around 2:00 and didn't stop until Sunday morning. Something really funny happened though...Karen went to Atlanta for the night and when she left around 1:00, she by accident took my keys with her!!! I was stranded at the house and had no way to drive anywhere or lock the doors to the house. With both rommies gone I decided why pout about it, make it fun! So I looked in the fridge and cabinets to see what I had. I thought, why not use whatever I had and make something that I never have! I already had a bottle of wine so I was pretty much set for the evening. I also thought that since it was a Saturday night and do dreadful out that a friend may want to stay in and join me. I grabbed the phone and plans were made. My place, 7:00 food, wine and possibly a movie. I went all out, using everything in my fridge and some items in the cabinets. Indian cuisine was had! A simple salad, quinoa with sweet potatoes and chic peas with a wonderful curry. The spices included curry powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and Guam Marsala, it was flavorful and fill the house with the most comforting aroma. Over brown rice with seared tofu, it was perfect. I did drizzle some of The Living Tree's tahini dressing for the salad and added avocado. Not completely Indian but as good as I could do! I thought it would be fun to play with the soda streamer with Pete and we used Chardonnay, mixed with palm sugar and pomegranate tangerine juice. Look how wonderful! Pomegranates are great sprinkled with Indian food but I didn't have one on hand. This was a wonderful sparkling beverage to have with dinner. As Julia would say, "Bon Appetite!"

Sunday was spent doing very relaxed things. Laundry, snacking, working out and watching the movie that I spilled the beans on in the beginning of the post (Oooooppps!).

Monday was a pretty darn busy day I must say...I trained my new client for almost 2 hours! We started with some intervals outside (she absolutely hates them) and then the reward is a hour long yoga session with Pilate's Incorporated. It was fun and REALLY great because I did it at my house! I used the back yard for the intervals. Utilizing the table and chairs and then used the living room for a yoga studio so to speak. We had plenty of room and privacy. I was also able to play music which made things a lot more fun. She really enjoyed it and said "I feel like I do when I leave the spa after yoga." Mission accomplished! Hopefully I stretched all of the soreness out of her so she wont hate me come Thursday. She is such a good sport. After training from 12:00 to 2:00 I then went to the gym for my own work out, grocery shopped showered and before I knew it was 5:00. I was pooped! I wore my heart rate monitor for both workouts and the total came out to almost 850 cals! I was astonished. I ate promptly when I saw that number. Oddly enough though I didn't feel famished. I ate a two part breakfast and had a small snack right after she left before my session. I went to the Mall for a quick exchange and then home to go on a short walk with K while catching up with her. Dinner was had at around 7:00. Left overs from Saturday and it was just as good, if not better! I will save you from the same picture. After literally crawling into bed I checked my e-mails, called my mom and fell asleep by 10:30. Thank goodness because 7:00 a.m. came early.

So that bring us to now! I gotta get some major work done! You know how it is when you are off from a holiday...you always make up for it.

Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow I have some great posts this week ;)

By the way, Katie is giving a way a Vita mix!!! Check out how you can win!

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2010/01/16/vitameata-vita-mix-giveaway/

-Heather

Coffee+Dark Chocolate=Pefect first breakfast.

That was my facebook status this morning and it was true. This morning when I woke I knew I wanted one thing and I needed it fast...COFFEE!!! Boy am I glad that I have a coffee maker with a timer on it! There is nothing better than waking up to a pot of already brewed coffee. This morning I used a new product that I have been waiting to try for forever! FINALLY, I got a package in the mail from a company I contacted a long time ago. Well get ready folks I have a review that is worth reading about this morning!

Can I ask You to Imagine, sipping a rich creamy Sugar FREE Gourmet Hot Chocolate that tastes like it's loaded with sugar and fat,... and laughing because it isn't. That... is the experience you get when you indulge yourself with Chocodant. Yes! Dreams can come true. Are you curious to learn more? Well, you can continue to do just that. Fortunately, it's easy to just keep reading on...

Healthy Sugar FREE Chocolate It took them over FIVE Years and 63 Tries to get Chocodant to what it is today. A Great tasting, gourmet chocolate, anti-oxidant dietary supplement powdered drink mix, that tastes so good you don't miss the sugar or the fat. You actually think it's there. Chocodant is much lower in fat, and far higher in anti-oxidant value than other gourmet hot chocolate! Only 0.55 grams per serving (which is less than 1% of the recommended daily value) We are talking about Gourmet Chocolate. We are talking about Dairy Free. We are talking about Sugar Free. We are talking about adding JAJA Stevioside (stevia extract). But it is important to note that Chocodant stevioside chocolate drink mix is not sold as a food, or candy. Rather in the USA you can buy Chocodant strictly as an Anti-Oxidant Dietary Supplement powdered drink mix. This means that... Chocodant not only Tastes Great... It's Good For You Too! You get the rich Flavoniod content of specially gourmet processed Dutch Chocolate, the Potent Anti-Oxidant power of Grape Seed Extract, and the supplement is enhanced with JAJA Stevioside (stevia Extract). Now I ask you... What could possibly be better? It's like having your cake and eating it too. And it's Sugar Free and Dairy Free!

When I got the package Saturday I was so happy! I contacted them I think in the beginning of the winter season because I knew that hot coco would be on my mind and since I cant have artificial sweeteners I was delighted to find them. I am so glad that I did! I am very skeptical about products that claim to be better than "the real thing". When I opened the box I noticed that the product was packaged nicely. I liked that it was resealable. This shiny, pack was staring me in the fact all day. When I looked at this product on-line I thought that the photos could have been more appealing and the website needed a bit of a more polished look. I must warn you now. When you go to the site it may not look as good as this product truly is. When I went to the kitchen this morning to get my coffee I saw the package of Chocodant looking right at me. I thought "This could be good, or this could be really bad....There is only one way to find out I guess." I decided that I would add a tablespoon to my coffee to see if it lived up to it's expectations....

This is the photo that should be on the site.

This made a normal cup of coffee one of the best I have had in a LONG time. Chocodant is rich, smooth and very good! I gladly give them 4 stars. I love that there is not that there is three ingrediants and that the stevia that they added is not too much. Stevia can have a odd taste if you use too much or a bad brand. I will say. I dont care how many years that they have been perfecting this product. They can stop right here. It mixed easily and I was in love at first sip. I was nervous that it would take more than one serving to really stand up to what other hot coco's taste like once mixed. Nope, one table spoon and your on your way to a wonderful chocolate drink. In my coffee, I did add some milk but I always do. I didnt have to add anymore stevia to it (usually I have my coffee with a splash of milk and stevia). The Chocodant was the perfect thing to add to my cup this morning to really make this Sunday perfect! Thanks to Allen not forgetting about me and sending me some when they got in a new batch (That is why it took so long to get to me, they were low because of the demand) I am now hooked! I very rarely give a company 4 stars (I have in the past and to a few companys for sure) but this one deserves it! You know I would tell you the truth too ;)

If you want a great tasting cup of hot coco that you can feel good about drinking. Go to their site!

Supplement Facts

---

Serving Size: 5.5 grams Servings Per Container: 41

Amount/Serving:	% DV*		Amount/Serving:	%DV*
Total Fat: 0.55 g	‹ 1%		Total Carbohydrates: 2.1 g	‹ 1%
Calories: 13	‹ 1%		Dietary Fiber: 2.9 g	‹ 2%
Sodium: 2mg	‹ 1%		Sugar: 0g	0%
Potassium: 136 mg	1%		Protein: 1g	2%
Cholesterol: 0mg	0%

Grape Seed Extract Standardized to 95%: 33mg	**
Lecithin: 215 mg	**
Proprietary Blend:; 4.442 grams Dutch Cocoa powder, Natural Flavor, JAJA Stevioside (stevia extract)

www.chocodant.com

You wont be sorry that you did! I plan on having hot coco for the rest of the month and even baking with this blend. Be sure to keep reading because I will be posting more about Chocodant and the many ways I use it. Thanks so very much for sending me Chocodant my way! I am a lover of this stuff and now I doubt that my coffee or hot chocolate will ever be the same!

As for chocolate, scientists have identified two compounds in chocolate that promote positive mood states. These compounds inhibit the breakdown of a brain chemical called anandamide that is responsible for causing feelings of euphoria. In fact, the active ingredient in marijuana creates a “high” by binding to the same brain receptor sites as anandamide. In other words, chocolate makes us feel good by more or less the same means marijuana does. This fact may partially explain the existence of “chocoholics.” I just may become one of them ;) Dark chocolate is rich in a flavonoids and polyphenols—two types of antioxidants. These compounds improve blood flow and lower blood pressure by helping the blood vessels relax and expand. Dark chocolate has also been shown to increase insulin sensitivity, help prevent diarrhea, reduce fatigue in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, and reduce the stickiness of blood platelets, thus potentially lowering the risk of heart attack. So there you have it! A drink that you can feel good about! I also found out that if you mix Chocodant with liquid (milk or water) and let it sit if because pudding like. Stick it in the freezer and you have yourself a delicious desert! If you dont mix the powder completely you have what they call "chocolate pearls" and they are chewy googy. All in all a fantastic product. Thanks again for sharing this with me!


See you all tomorrow!
-Heather

Workin with it and through it!

Hello hello hello! It is FRIDAY and I couldnt be more happy! I have a long weekend ahead of me and I am going to enjoy every moment!

Last night was my first training session with the new client and man...It wasn't easy. It wasn't that it was a hard workout it was just that she hadn't exercise in years and her weight inhibited her endurance. After only 2 minutes of walking we had to stop. She had a horrible cramp in her shin and I made her sit down right there on the side walk and had to roll it out with my water bottle. She didn't listen to me and drink any water. I have never seen any ones leg that tight. Once I knew that walking was out...I had to think of a plan and fast! I wanted to do interval training because that is the most effective weight loss exercise. My plan was to walk 10 minutes and then 4 minutes of light jogging (even though I knew that she wouldn't last that long, I thought that if I thought she could do it, she would think that same and go for it). I found a flat place that was kind hidden and saw a statue on a platform. That was what I had to work with being that it was starting to get late and we didn't have much time (my goal was to get home by 6:30 so that I could have dinner this time at a normal hour. We walked up to the flat area and I stood there thinking for a second. Ok, "we are going to do 10 rounds of intervals in a stationary spot." Are you ready? She said "yeah" and I showed her what we would be doing. Here is the plan: 10 push ups (against the wall), 25 runners lunges, 10 push ups on wall, 10 blurpees, 10 push ups, 25 hoping floor taps. That was the round that I wanted to do for 10 times. Breathing through it and allowing the heart rate to stabilize during the slow push-ups and elevate it with the explosive moves in between. We got through one and a half round. Tears were coming out of her eyes and before I knew it she was completely crying. It took everything in me to stay strong and tell her to work through these feelings and allow her self to cook down. I realized right then, it was too much for her and I had to stop. So on my feet yet again I had to think quickly. Yoga! That is a workout that I could make a little more difficult with some moves and incorporate her own body weight to strength train. She was OK after a few minutes (thank goodness for a personal training contract and consent form!) I told her to sit down and I decided to start with 10 minutes of meditation, visualization and positive thinking. It all starts with the mind and I had to get her thinking that it was possible to loose the weight and be active. She was into it. We then got started with some sun salutations, downward dogs, triangle and even plank! Then I flipped her over and did a Pilate's ab work out. I made her breathe deep and even massaged her back while in child's pose. I really love this girl already and she definitely has pulled at my heart strings. After the work out I will admit, I didn't feel so good about it. I felt that I had not done what I had set out to do and really wanted her to see that jogging even at a light pace was attainable. While we were walking back to the car she said "I really feel like I have accomplished something huge." I was surprised and said "tell me what you feel like you accomplished." She said "Normally I would cry because I couldn't breathe and just sit there, give up and feel terrible." You pushed me but in the right ways. I didn't quite and I actually got through it! Right then, my mood turned into happiness. She was right! I was upset because I felt like I didn't get a work out however for her size (250 at 5'3) she really did. I looked at her, drenched in sweat, glowing. I remembered the first time that I had gotten through my aerobics workout and how I thought I wasn't going to make it (thankfully I went with the instructor so I HAD to get through it, otherwise I would have given up). I remember laying on the couch so tired and worn out but the thought that was going through my mind was "I did it, I actually got through the hardest workout ever." Or so I though ;) I was hooked from that day forward and never looked back. Of course now my work outs are SUPER intense and lengthy. The thing is, everyone has to start somewhere and she is take a HUGE first step by just hiring a trainer. Little does she know, she is going to be changing every single thing about herself. Emotionally, mentally and physically. Being a life couch I am going to really dive into what is REALLY going on. People with weight issues aren't that way just because they eat too much, there is so much more behind it. You have to get to the ROOT of why you do the things that you do or you will never change for the rest of your life and stick with it. It is going to be the toughest thing that she has ever done but she is going to do it and with my help. Most trainers wouldn't even go there. Most would just stand by then and tell then what to do. I motivate them the entire time, making them repeat after me affirmations, I actually DO every exercise with them and I teach them tips on nutrition and diet. Heck, I have even gone to the grocery store with them! With all this being said this is what I would like to dedicate my post to. You may be reading my blog for the first time and be a little over weight, a lot over weight or feel like there is no hope. I am here to tell you there are choices that you can make to get you the mind, body and spirit that you have always dreamed about. It is possible.

If you want to learn how to lose weight and keep it off then you will have to take the necessary steps to get your head in the game which will keep you motivated to keep with your diet and exercise strategy. This article shows you how to get the mindset you need to lose weight and keep it off.

It all starts with desire. Without desire you wouldn't even be reading this article, it is what gets the whole ball rolling. The problem with desire is that it can fade unless you uncover that really heart felt reason that tells you this is so important that nothing is going to stand in your way.
If you are not quite there yet with your desire you can uncover this by sitting down and creating a list of reasons losing weight and keeping it off is important to you - when you hit on the key reason it will jump out at you and add instant motivation.

Focus on the positive and shrink the negative. You will have to stick with your diet and exercise in order to get the results and this means that you will surely have times when you are questioning going on. To push through these times you will want to create a habit of focusing on the positives.
Every night as you fall asleep do a "what went well review" of your day and bring to mind all of the things you did that moved you toward your goal. Did you eat a salad for lunch, go for a long walk or eat fruit for your snack? Acknowledge all the things you are doing right and let go of any missteps and your momentum will build.

Know that you are worth the effort. There is no good reason that you don't deserve to live in the healthiest and most fit body you can - you are worth it and no one can change that.

1.Write your goals down – tell yourself what weight you want to get to. While you’re at it, write down any other personal goals you might have as far as your life in general. Since you’re undertaking something as huge as losing your extra weight, you may as well also focus your efforts on improving other aspects of your life while you have the motivation and drive.
2. Be specific about what those goals are. When you generalize your goals, you are trivializing them. Your goals ARE IMPORTANT. Make them important!
3. Assign yourself a deadline. You want to lose weight. You want to do it by Christmas, or your wedding, or the next class reunion. When you assign a deadline, you give yourself a goal to work for, and like we said, your goals ARE IMPORTANT!
4. Make those goals measurable and achievable. Don’t think TOO big or try to undertake more than what you are capable of. If you need to lose 100 pounds, don’t expect to do it in a few weeks. Give yourself enough time to do so in a healthy manner. You could also try to break the goals down into easier increments. Tell yourself that you will lose 10 pounds over the next month. Then tell yourself the same thing the next month. Eventually, you’ll reach that goal and feel the satisfaction of being lighter than you were before.
5. Focus on those goals everyday. Post them on your refrigerator. Write them in your date book. Put a reminder on the visor of your car. When you focus on your goals, you will keep them in mind all the time and when they are first and foremost in your mind, you will be well on the way toward achieving them.
6. Be committed to those goals – at all costs. There’s a reason why you want to achieve those goals. When you are committed, those goals become the focus of your mind and they will be much easier to realize.
The battle with our metabolism as we age can’t be denied. Our metabolism, which transforms our food into energy, slows down with each passing year. If we don’t adjust our eating habits and our exercise to compensate, we slowly add additional pounds. We may feel betrayed, but the reality is we’re going to have to change some habits in order to maintain our weight.
If you take things one step at a time, there are basic steps that can be adopted. Stop telling yourself, “I just can’t do it.” You can coax yourself into a new habit of healthy eating.
Developing a psychology towards weight loss will help you achieve you goals and realize success. Aim high, push yourself to become the type of person you want to be and live the life that you want and deserve. We are not given the power of dreams without the power and ability to achieve those dreams. It’s time to start – RIGHT NOW!

A question I ask myself every day whether it be before I eat, when I wake up in the morning or even before I go to bed is this:

"What can I do RIGHT NOW to get me closer to my goal?"

This question can be asked for any goal that you may have at anytime. Try it out, it works for me!

The sky is not the limit, there are no limits!

-Heather

Oh and by the way....Check out this sweet give-a-way!

http://blueskyworld.wordpress.com/

fruity

Hello Thursday readers! We are so very close to the weekend and I am so ready. I have Monday off so just remember that I will be post less for a while! Every blogger needs a break!

I am so excited about the e-mails that I am getting from some of the best companies in the WORLD saying that they are sending samples my way! Thanks to them I have something to look forward too. The living tree is one in particular that has made my day and are going to be sending me something that I have always wanted to try but have yet to. Your just going to have to wait see what that may be!

This morning was out "employee appreciation breakfast". Things like that give me anxiety and I hate to attend. However, I had to. Why do I get anxiety? Because I never ever want to eat the foods that they have. They did have however fruit and I was pleased. It is so awkward for me to grab a bowl of fruit and sit there (I already had my first snack of the morning and my second "breakfast" isnt until 10:00ish. Sitting at the table with the bowl and not touching it was like "Please, judge me!" I had to be social and sit there and I was just waiting to be there for 15 minutes so that I could leave. One thing that did put a smile on my face was that I snagged the half of papaya that was in the fruit tray. Everyone was looking at it and saying "what is that weird looking piece of fruit, it is gross looking." Meanwhile, I was thinking "get out of the way, I want that beauty!" It is so funny to me how A: people never try anything new and B: fruit in the winter is like gold to me. It is SO expensive here and never tastes like it does in the winter. I usually have to stick to grapefruit and apples in the colder months because that is what I can afford. Well take a look at the bowl of fruit I got! I got enough for today and tomorrow to pair with my yogurt and cottage cheese mix. I am looking forward now to my 12:00 meal! MMMMMMM!

How do you manage to get through a sticky situation when you don't want to be rude but you don't want to partake in the food/drink that your work place, family or friends prepare but want to still be social??? I am eager to hear what you have to say!

I made it pretty when I got back to my desk. This really was a treat and I am happy. I am thinking that I should make an effort to buy some fruit other than apples and grapefruit. I missed it! SO what happens when you get a lovely array of fruit in my world?

I never do parfaits! This one was amazing! Oh so goooood!

Today is my first day training my new client and I am both nervous and excited. It is always a huge change for a person that is not active to start working out and a challenge to get in the right mindset to know that this is something that they are going to be held to. She is just the sweetest girl but boy is this going to be a challenge for her. We will be doing intervals today and it will consist of 10 minutes walking 4 minutes jogging. I asked her if she wanted to do walking at a normal pace and then speed walking for the other but she jumped right in and said "I think I can jog, lets do it!) So, I will see how this goes today and let you know. It should be interesting!

Lunch and snacks today will be the same Ole same Ole. This weekend will be a bit different as I have dinner plans and excited to be eating at my favorite (Doc Chey's). A Chinese restaurant that is amazing and makes my food just the way I order, almost every time ;)

So sorry that this is a short post but sometimes I just don't have much to say. I will have a great post for tomorrow though so no worries! See ya!

-Heather