As a mom I am always on the look out for healthier snack options for my children. In a perfect world they would snack on fresh fruits and raw veggies daily. Thankfully they do, but they also want to enjoy sweet treats too. Most adults feel the same way too. They try and eat healthy all the time, but occasionally they like to have a treat too.

I have never heard of the company Betty Lou’s Inc. before, but I’m glad that I know about them now. Betty Lou’s Inc. offers snacks to suit any dietary needs including Diary Free, Gluten Free, Hormone Free, Vegan, Soy Free, Corn Free and many other products ideal for special dietary needs.

Betty Lou’s carries fruit bars, cookies, protein shakes, nut butter bars and other tasty treats.

I am grateful that no one in my immediate family has any specific diet restrictions or food allergies. However I do know that certain ingredients can have a negative effect on people, like Gluten. I know that people who suffer from Celiac Disease cannot have things made with Gluten. I have read (and they have not been scientifically proven) that a Gluten free diet can boost health and energy, help you lose weight, cope better with ADHD, autism, headaches, and other conditions.

I have tried some Gluten free products in the past and frankly they were also taste-free too (ha ha). Or they tasted gross.

I was asked if I would like to try some Gluten Free Fruit Bars from Betty Lou’s. I checked them out on the website. They did look yummy so I gladly accepted the opportunity.

Betty Lou’s sent me a variety of their Gluten Free Fruit Bars. They came in assorted flavors like Cherry, Blueberry, Strawberry, Apricot and Apple Cinnamon.

The Fruit Bars are not really bars at all, but rather squares. Fruit Squares would have been more appropriate.

Each Fruit Bar is individually wrapped, making them and ideal snack to toss in your child’s lunch bag. They are a nice size too. They look small in the photo but really they are a decent size.

They really are very tasty. I love the fruity flavors. The fruit tastes natural, like a fruit spread. Not something artificial. Blueberry is my favorite. My kids like the Cherry flavor the best.

It’s hard to believe that these are Gluten free. You would never guess from the flavor.

Just one Fruit Bar was very satisfying. My kids have been enjoying them after school with a glass of milk and it holds them over until dinner time. Usually my kids are looking to snack on a few things before dinner.

The fruit bars do not contain any of the 8 major food allergens identified by the FDA. They are Gluten free, Soy free, contains no Barley, are Corn free, no milk, low in fat, no cholesterol and high in fiber. They are just shy of 200 calories each, so you need to keep that in mind if you are counting calories. They also contain 40+ grams of carbs.

My kids enjoyed the Fruit Bars from Betty Lou’s. The only thing they complained about (which I sort of agree with) is that they can be sticky. That is not a bad thing. Just make sure you have napkins available to wipe your hands when you are enjoying one of the fruit bars, or a place where you can wash your hands.

They are also not cheap. They average around $1.50 per Fruit Bar.

I know many people have children who have to eat Gluten free foods. I would recommend trying out the Fruit Bars from Betty Lou. Your child might enjoy them as much as my kids did.

To check out these and other products visit www.BettyLousInc.com.

You can purchase the products online or look for a store near you. There is a store locator on the Betty Lou’s website.

Kimberly

*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own.

I was asked to participate in a fun post by the creators of Save the Ta-Tas. They recently launched their new lifestyle brand, Laughter Heals Gifts. More about that in a bit.

They asked me to write a post about what brings me joy? I honestly thought this was going to be a super easy post to write. That is until I sat down to start writing and realized that there are so many things that bring me joy that it would be hard to narrow it down to just a handful. If I listed everything that brought me joy I would but up for the World’s Longest Blog Post Award. Ha Ha.

One of my followers on Facebook suggested that I do the “ABC’s of What Brings Me Joy”. I thought that was a fabulous idea. So without further adieu, here are the ABC’s of What Brings Me Joy.

A – Animals, especially baby ones and fuzzy ones.

B – Babies. My heart melts when I see a baby smile or hear a baby giggle.

C – Chocolate and Coffee (not together).  Need I say more?

D – Disney. Disney movies bring me joy. Being at Disney with my family brings me great joy. I only wish we could do it again before my kids are too old to appreciate the greatest place on Earth.

E – Elderly people holding hands, hugging and kissing. It makes my heart smile to see love that lasts a life time.

F – Family. My husband and children mean the world to me. I love them with every fiber of my being.

G – Goals. When I FINALLY accomplish a goal it makes me feel so happy and proud of myself. It makes me joyful to know that I accomplished something that I set my mind to do.

H – Holidays. I love them all! I am in my element when it comes to decorating for the different holidays. I also love holiday music, movies and specials. Christmas, Halloween, Easter… I love them all.

I – Ice Cream. There is a lot to be said about going to the local ice cream stand and enjoying some sweet and yummy ice cream with your family on a hot summer evening.

J – Jokes. I love to laugh. Laughter brings me great joy. I am a HUGE fan of comedy clubs. My kids have several joke books and are always sharing jokes with us to make us laugh.  

K – Kindness. I love being kind to others, and having others be kind to me. I go out of my way to perform Random Acts of Kindness every chance I get.

L – Love and Laughter. To be loved and to give love is probably the greatest joy of them all. Laughter is also one of the greatest joys we have to give and get from others.  

M – Music. There are plenty of songs that make my heart fill with joy and happiness.

N – Nature. I love everything about nature. It brings me great joy and happiness to see beautiful flowers, butterflies, a gorgeous sunset, a starry sky… the list goes on. Sometimes I love to close eyes to feel the warmth of the sun on my face, listen to the sounds of the birds chirping and take note of the breeze blowing through my hair. Ahhh… it’s a wonderful feeling.

O – Ocean. I love to feel the warm sand beneath my feet. I love to listen to the sound of the waves and gulls. I love collecting sea shells. And I most especially love to look off on the horizon. It humbles me. It makes me realize just how big out world is and it makes me think about all the wonderful things that are just beyond the horizon.

P – Photography. I am passionate about taking pictures. I don’t do so well with product pictures but I take pretty good landscape and nature photos. It makes me feel so good when I take a great photo.

Q – Quiet. Sometimes you can find joy in simply sitting in silence. It’s a great way to reflect on your life and all the wonderful things that you have. If you have teenagers like I do you can also appreciate peace and quiet. Ha Ha.

R – Reading. I love to read. It’s a wonderful way to explore new worlds, learn, get to know real people and to feed your imagination.

S – Smiles. Happy, smiling faces can bring great joy to everyone. Putting a smile on your face can help spread that joy to others. Smiling is contagious!

T – Traveling. I LOVE to go on adventures and explore new places. It’s also wonderful to meet people from different countries and cultures and learn from them.

U – Unconventional. I appreciate someone who can “dance to the beat of their own drum” so to speak. Meaning, I enjoy people who express their uniqueness and are not afraid to be who they truly are. I tend to think I’m a bit kooky myself, but that is OK because I know I’m unique and one-of-a-kind and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Being true to who I really am makes me happy.

V – Vacation. We can’t afford to go on a “real” vacation, so we do day trips. I love being able to spend quality time with my husband and children. It’s fun to get away from the stresses of our daily lives and just have a fun and carefree time.

W – Writing. I am also passionate about writing. It brings me joy to write, and even MORE joy if people compliment me and/or have kind things to say about something I’ve written.

X – Xylophone, specifically the one made by Fisher Price. I had one growing up that I played with all the time. It gave me great joy. When I became a parent I purchased one for my children. I loved to listen to them play with it and it brought back such wonderful memories of my own youth.

Y - Youth. Just observing my children brings me joy. I love to watch children playing and having a great time. I love to see the look of wonder and excitement in their eyes.

Z – Zoo. I love animals and I love to take pictures so it’s the perfect place to be.

Please note that this isn’t my “ultimate list of things that bring me joy”. There are so many other things that bring me joy. These are just a few of them.

One of the joys I mentioned was Laughter. Laughter does bring me great joy. I love to laugh! I’ve been told I am very funny too. It’s a nice feeling knowing that I can make others laugh too.

As I mentioned earlier, the creators of Save the Ta-Tas has launched a new brand called Laughter Heals Gifts. Laughter Heals Gifts products are not only fun and fashionable, but they also help to inspire joy. This new accessory and gift collection includes tees, bracelets, lanyards, stickers, buttons, a travel mug, key chains and bumper magnets.

Laughter Heals Gifts founder, Julia Fikse, aims to uplift anyone who needs a smile, hug or a good laugh. “I started Laughter Heals Gifts because creating joy in our life can change our lives for the better, no matter the circumstance,” says Fikse. “Joy gives us hope, and hope gives us the strength to discover new paths to greater fulfillment and heartfelt happiness.”

Perfect for any occasion, Laughter Heals Gifts hopes to connect with customers by way of a lifestyle brand that helps create a joyful, fulfilled and healthy life no matter the circumstance. Laughter Heals Gifts is also proud to support initiatives that create joySM.  

I think it’s a powerful message that Laughter Heals Gifts is trying to spread. Having joy in your life does help to life you up and bring you peace and happiness. Without joy in your life, what do you have?

Personally I have found that even in the darkest days you can find something to be joyful about. Even when you are at the lowest point in your life there is always something that can help bring you some happiness, no matter how small it is.

What kind of life would it be if you have a life without joy?

It’s easy to find joy in everyday things, or even create joy. You just have to open your eyes and heart and look around you.

I think Laughter Heals Gifts is a wonderful idea. Laughter is the best medicine, or so they say. My husband has a way of making me laugh no matter how I’m feeling. I could have the worst day ever and my husband can do the silliest thing and make me burst out laughing. Before you know it I don’t even remember what I was in such a bad mood for.

I have a travel mug from Laughter Heals Gifts. It’s really nice with a spill proof lid. It even has butterflies all around its colorful purple band. I ♥ butterflies! They are another thing that brings me joy.

A nice thing about this travel mug is that the bottom has a soft material on it to help keep it from scratching your desk or other surfaces. I have never seen a travel mug with a soft bottom like this.

My kids also have rubber bracelets from the Laughter Heals Gifts website. They say “Create Joy” on one side and “Laughter Heals” on the other. My daughter has the pink bracelet and my son has the purple one (although he wishes it was a “boy color”. LOL). They are really nice bracelets and in a generous size. I have thick wrists and with a bit of wiggling I was able to get the bracelet on my wrist.

These items are available online at www.LaughterHealsGifts.com today and in brick and mortar retailers throughout the country in spring 2012.

Laughter Heals Gifts has be kind to offer the same travel mug that I have to give to a lucky reader. Thank you Laughter Heals Gifts!

To enter please comment on something that brings YOU joy. Easy peasy!

For extra entries you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done. Extra entries are optional. 

- Subscribe to She Scribes via RSS or E-mail. Both options are found on the right side bar.

- “Like” Laughter Heals Gifts on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/LaughterHealsGifts. 

- “Like” She Scribes on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/SheScribes.

- Follow Laughter Heals on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/Laughter_Heals.

- Follow Save the Ta Tas on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/SavetheTatas.

- Follow She Scribes on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/She_Scribes and tweet about Laughter Heals Gifts and/or giveaway. Please include @She_Scribes and @Laughter_Heals in the tweet so I can see it too. If you can squeeze in @SavetheTatas too that would be great. This is limited to three tweets per day.

- Share information about Laughter Heals Gifts and/or giveaway with others on Facebook, Digg, Technorati and so forth. Be sure to tell me what you did and please provide a name and/or URL so I can verify.

- Leave a thoughtful comment on a non-giveaway post on She Scribes and tell me which post you commented on. There is a limit of one comment per post, but you can comment on as many posts as you want for an unlimited extra entry option.

- Post about Laughter Heals Gifts and/or giveaway on your site and please link back to this post. Please provide the URL.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on February 10, 2012 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply with a name and mailing address (no PO Box). Failure to do so will result in a new winner will be chosen in their place.

Other great giveaways can be found on the right side bar under “Win It”.

Kimberly

*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own. Laughter Heals Gifts will be providing the prize.

Today marks the end of my first week on Amway’s Nutrilite’s Weight Loss Plan. It wasn’t as successful as I had hoped it would be. A few things set me back this week which had an effect on my weight loss. I still managed to lose a wee bit over 2 pounds (I am not counting the ounces – I’m rounding to the nearest pound).

This past week I had to deal with the “monthly enemy” (sorry guys, it’s a fact of life). That didn’t help matters at all. I’m sure most women will agree.

I am also an emotional eater. Most especially when I’m feeling stressed out. Sadly there were a few times this past week where I was weak and caved into my cravings. Sigh…

There is a good week to start a diet plan, and a bad week. Last week ended up being a bad week. But I stuck with it. This week things should be a lot better. The same stress is looming over my head, but I am going to find other ways to deal with it rather than grab a bowl of Lucky Charms at 1:00 in the morning.

Getting into the habit of taking all the supplements several times a day has been a bit of a challenge too. I keep them near my coffee cup so it’s easy to remember them first thing in the morning. It’s lunch time and dinner time that I caught myself forgetting about them. I only forgot a few times and took them right away as soon as I remember. I always seemed to remember as I was eating. I need to get myself into the habit of taking them BEFORE I eat.

I have that taking the supplements actually fill me up. You need to consume a lot of water to down all the supplements, and as you know, water fills you up. It wasn’t so bad in the morning because I’m not much of a morning person to begin with. Lunch wasn’t so bad either but at dinner time it was a bit of a turn off to have a full feeling in my stomach and then sit down to eat dinner with my family and not be overly hungry.

I do have more energy than I have the past several weeks. I would like to think the supplements have something to do with that. I found that I can do things like take the dog on a long walk and not feel like I have to pass out the moment I walk back in the door. I also feel a bit more alert and awake during the day, especially the afternoon when I tend to lose steam and slow down.

The recipes this week were OK. Most of the recipes I tried to make four servings of so that my whole family could enjoy them and so I wasn’t make different meals for everyone every night. The recipes are not hard to make for multiple people. What I did was measure out the ingredients 4 times and prepared everything together.

My favorite recipe this week was the Beef Stir Fry. You get to eat A LOT of my favorite veggies with it (peppers, carrots, broccoli and onion. The recipe called for celery. I don’t like celery so I ommited that.

I’m not used to actually making lunch for myself during the day. I normlly grab a PB&J or cheese sandwich because it’s quick and easy to make. I found it easier just to make a big salad than make individual salads on each of the specified days.

Having the journal to keep track of everything is a HUGE help. Without it I’d be lost for sure.

One thing that was listed in the journal this week was Strawberries. I couldn’t find any decent looking ones at the grocery store so I used Blueberries instead. I’m assuming it was OK to do that since it’s still a fruit.

The week could have gone better, but it wasn’t a total loss. I’m still learning and getting used to things.

I’ll be back next week to let you know how week two went.

Kimberly

*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There is no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.

Today I’m about to embark on a new weight loss program. For the next several weeks I’ll be participating in a special blogger program utilizing Amway’s Nutrilite Weight Loss Program.

Unlike other weight loss programs, Amway’s Nutrilite provides appropriate products depending on your genotype (your body’s DNA) such as Carb Reducer, Fat Trimmer or Better Balance.

All of the Amway Nutrilite weight loss plans include and easy-to-follow eating plan and a full 28-days  of nutritional supplements, daily menus and recipes, meal replacement options, snacks, and a customized eating plan journal.

All of their plans are healthy and well-balanced, incorporating whole grains, lean proteins, and lots of fruits and vegetables. For me that is very important. Any weight loss program needs to include those important “ingredients”.

Using supplements while trying to lose weight is important because the body may not be getting all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs. I know that is always a concern of mine. I NEED to take vitamins and supplements, but I often neglect to do so. My doctor has even strongly recommended that I do. I especially need B-12, D and E in my diet.

Amway sent me a month’s supply of their weight loss products including

-  Nutrilite Slimmetry, which is a dietary supplement to help target fat loss.

-  Nutrilite Invisifiber, a fiber supplement to help you get more fiber in your diet and to help you feel full. 

-  Glucose Health dietary supplement to help your body use the energy in foods more efficiently.

-  An assortment of Nutrilite Meal replacement bars, snack bars and meal replacement shakes. 

-  Nutrilite Fruits & Vegetables 2 Go drink mixes (add to water) to help get more Fruits & Veggies into my diet.

-  Concentrated Fruits & Vegetables supplements.

-  A weight loss journal and plan guide, to help me keep on track.

The plan guide gives you a weekly shopping list that you can tear out and bring with you to the store. It helps you to prepare for the week ahead and what you’ll need for the diet plan.

Today is day one. I have yet to weigh myself. I was going to wait until I put my son on the bus. That way I’ll have a starting weight. I recently lost 8 pounds, so I’m heading in the right direction.

The one thing that I don’t really like about starting any kind of a plan in the Winter is that it limits the exercise I can do. I rather not walk in the snow and rain. I don’t belong to a gym either, so I have to make due with what I have (exercise videos).

To give you an idea of what a typical day might be on this plan, here is today’s schedule.

Breakfast – 2 Slimmetry supplements, 1 Glucose Health supplement, 1 Invisifiber and a Better Balance Shake.

Snack – Nutrilite Snack Bar, 1 cup of vegetable juice and 1 string cheese.

Lunch – 2 Slimmetry supplements, 1 Glucose Health supplement, and apple & cheddar salad, 10 saltine crackers and 1 cup of carrots.

Snack – Nutrilite meal bar and 6 almonds.

Dinner – 2 Slimmetry supplements, 1 Glucose Health supplement, Veggie Beef Stir Fry, 1 cup of brown rice, PB Banana Dream.

The guide book includes the recipes too.

I have to admit getting used to taking so many supplements is going to be an issue. I’m not much of a “pill popper”. I won’t even take aspirin unless I have no choice.

The guide also features some weight loss success stories to keep you motivated and provide you with inspiration.

I’ll post my thoughts on this experience every week, ideally on Monday (I was hoping for Friday – we’ll see).

Wish me luck.

To learn more about these and other products visit www.Amway.com.

Kimberly

*I was provided with products samples free in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.

Last week I posted that I was trying out Shaklee’s Cinch Weight Loss Program for two weeks in hope of “jump starting” my weight loss. You can read the original post here, http://bit.ly/wqXGQe (I shortened the link). In that post I gave you a bit more background into how the Cinch Weight Loss Program works.

I am happy to report that I lost 8+ pounds. I say 8 “plus” because my scale also does ounces and the ounce numbers kept flickering back and forth. So I’ll just round it to 8 to make it easier.

Eight pounds in two weeks? Works for me! I probably could have lost more but I have to admit that I didn’t exercise much except to try and take the dog on longer walks then usual. We have a Gazelle exercise machine but it’s buried behind the Christmas decorations. I need to find a way to dig a tunnel to get it.

I didn’t notice any difference as far as my measurements are concerned. I also happen to be obese. I think it will take a lot before it’s noticeable. When a some what “normal” weight person loses a few pounds you can see it right away. With obese people it takes a while before you can visually see a difference.

The Cinch two week starter kit that I received contained the following products. Next to each I will post my thoughts.

-  Cinch Vanilla Shake – Honestly, I’m not a big fan of Vanilla shakes. I wish I had a choice. I would have picked Chocolate.

The Cinch Vanilla shake reminded me of the Vanilla Instant Breakfast drink mix. Have you ever tried that before? I have. That is what it reminded me of, which is not a bad thing. I’m just trying to give you an idea of what it tasted like.

You can mix things into the shake (fruits) to make it more like a smoothy. I never gave that a try. I just made it and drank it as is. I think if I played around with it more I could have made it more enjoyable. I blame myself for that.

The Vanilla Shake mix I had came in a canister. You had to scoop out the mix to prepare it. I prefer things that already measured for you. It makes it easier and more convenient.

-   Cinch Chocolate Shake Packets – The kit also included the Chocolate Shake in pre-measured powered packets. I enjoyed the convenience of having the packages rather then have to scooop things out of the container.

The Chocolate Shake was not bad at all. I have to refer back to the Instant Breakfast mentioned earlier. It sort of reminded me of that, which is a good thing. Growing up I had Instant Breakfast almost daily with some toast for breakfast. Drinking the Cinch Chocolate Shakes sort of brought back memories.

I put the shake in a blender and added some ice to it. Believe it or not I think it made the shake taste even better. It reminded me of an ice cream shake in a way (not as thick).

I enjoyed the Chocolate Shake. I looked forward to having it each day.

-   Energy Tea Mix – I LOVE this stuff! I enjoyed drinking this. I tried it both cold and hot and I enjoyed it both ways. It tastes just like real tea, even though it’s in powder form. I don’t think it necessarily gave me energy. If anything it make me feel more calm and relaxed, like tea usually does.

I drank the Energy Tea Mix “as is” (just mixed with water) as well as with a squirt of lemon juice to mix it up a bit.

-   Cinch Weight Loss “Extras” - The Cinch kit also came with a handy pedometer (I DON’T walk enough at all! I really need to work on that), tape measure (I really needed one – not that I really want to know what my measurements are – ha ha), a shaker cup (this came in handy when mixing the drinks) and a program guide to help you make the best of the Cinch plan.

-  (2) Weekly Journals – These were very handy to help keep you on track. It’s always a good idea to write down everything you eat and drink. This will help you to ensure you drink enough water, drink your shakes, enjoy your snacks and so forth. Every diet program emphasizes the importance of journaling  your weight loss experience. Having the journals come with the kit encouraged me to do so. If there wasn’t any journals included I probably wouldn’t have written anything down. Having the journals make you more accountable too.

-   Assorted Snack Bars – The kit came with an assortment of snack bars; Lemon-Cranberry, Chocolate Decadence and Peanut Butter Crunch.

Each bar was only 120 calories and contained 3 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein.

The Chocolate Decadence bars were REALLY good. They tasted more like a dessert then a weight loss snack. The Peanut Butter Crunch were yummy too. The Lemon-Cranberry snack bars tasted artificial to me. They were still enjoyable, but not as much as the other two flavors.  

-   3 in 1 Boost Supplements - These supplements help to provide you with the vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy. They also contain EGCG which is suppose to help promote calories burning. The supplements also help to keep your blood levels steady so you don’t feel hungry all the time.  

You have to take these three times a day, one with each meal. I have to admit that I neglected to take them a few times. Taking supplements like this takes time to get used to.

Overall I enjoyed the program. I can see the pros and cons to it. But any weight loss program is going to have it’s good and bad points. I think the only read “con” is the over all cost. It’s not cheap, but if you want something that works and will help you to get a jump start in your weight loss efforts, then the Shakelee Cinch program is the one to try.

If you would like to learn more about the Cinch diet plan specifically please visit www.ShakleeCinch.com.

You can also follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #cinchspiration.

If you are interested in other Shaklee products please visit www.Shaklee.com.

Kimberly

*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are entirely my own and are not influenced in any way.

If you are like me you are probably trying to find ways to lose weight and stay fit. People assume that “diet foods” means you are limited to salads, fresh fruits and vegetables. That is not the case at all. There are plenty of delicious things you can eat without sacrificing your diet plan.

Soup is a hearty meal that will keep you full and satisfied. My family eats a lot of soup during the week, even in the summer time. It’s a quick meal to make and there is very little clean up. I have even made soup for breakfast.

Progresso Soup can help you stick to your diet and healthy eating plan. That is because they offer 40 different soups (yes – FORTY!) that are 100 calories or less per serving. That means there are plenty of flavorful options to help satisfy your cravings and to tickle your taste buds so that you are never bored.

Progresso soups are packed with hearty ingredients like pasta, beans, rice, meat and vegetables that suit your taste buds and make you feel good about including it in your meal choices.

I LOVE Progresso soups. My favorites are the Italian Style Meatball (light), Chicken Vegetable Rotini (light) and Split Pea with Ham. YUMMY!

In years past you might recall a special contest that Progresso does called Souper You. I’ve entered the past two years. So far I haven’t won, but I’ll keep trying.

This year’s Souper You contest is going to have three lucky winners. Theye will each receive the ultimate makeover experience in Hollywood. The prize package includes a trip for 2 to Los Angeles, California where the winner will receive a head-to-toe makeover including hair and makeup, guided shopping spree with a $1,000 fashion retailer gift card, $1,000 spending money and 2 tickets to this season’s live finale of NBC’s The Biggest Loser. OH! I would LOVE to win this! I have already dreamed of having a makeover and my husband has always wanted to go to California.

Here is a video of last year’s three winners. You can also Click here to watch this amazing video of the 2011 winner experience.

Here is how you enter:

-  Visit the Souper You website, www.SouperYou.com and submit your photo with a brief essay about why they love Progresso soups and why you deserve a makeover. You must do this before February 22, 20102.

-  Fans can check back on March 12, 2012 for the announcement of the top ten finalists.Then you can vote for their favorite finalist until March 25, 2012.

-  In addition, visit http://bit.ly/ProgressoCoup to download a printable coupon for $1.25 off the purchase of four (4) cans of Progresso Soup today. Feel free to share this link with family and friends. 

-  You can also tune into The Biggest Loser on NBC Tuesdays at 8:oo PM (EST) / 7:00 PM (CST).

To learn more about Progresso soups visit www.ProgressoSoup.com. You can also download a coupon for $1.25 off 4 cans of Progresso Light Soups here, http://bit.ly/ProgressoCoup.

To help you on your way of a SOUPER new YOU, I have a tasty prize package for a lucky reader. The winner will receive FIVE cans of Progresso Soups (variety) and a DVD of the Biggest Loser Workout.

To enter tell me what your favorite soup flavor/variety is.

For extra entries you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done. Extra entries are optional. 

- Subscribe to She Scribes via RSS or E-mail. Both options are found on the right side bar.

- “Like” Progresso on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/Progresso. 

- “Like” She Scribes on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/SheScribes.

- Follow She Scribes on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/She_Scribes and tweet about the Souper You contest and/or this giveaway. Please include @She_Scribes in the tweet so I can see it too. This is limited to three tweets per day.

- Share information about the Souper You contest and/or this giveaway with others on Facebook, Digg, Technorati and so forth. Be sure to tell me what you did and please provide a name and/or URL so I can verify.

- Leave a thoughtful comment on a non-giveaway post on She Scribes and tell me which post you commented on. There is a limit of one comment per post, but you can comment on as many posts as you want for an unlimited extra entry option.

- Post information about the Souper You contest and/or this giveaway on your site and please link back to this post. Please provide the URL.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on January 26, 2012 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply with a name and mailing address (no PO Box). Failure to do so will result in a new winner will be chosen in their place.

Other great giveaways can be found on the right side bar under “Win It”.

Kimberly

* I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own. The products,  information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

A popular New Year’s resolution for many people is to eat healthy and make better food choices. Reading labels and knowing what you are putting in your body is very important. Sometimes foods we think are good for us really aren’t.

We all know that thinks like sugar, fats, food coloring and things you cannot easily pronounce are bad for you. When choosing a product for you and your family it’s important to read the label and look for better for you ingredients like whole grains.

What exactly are whole grains anyway?

Whole grains are unrefined grains that haven’t had their bran and germ removed by milling. Whole grains are a great of fiber (which keeps you feeling full) and other important nutrients, such as magnesium, selenium and potassium. 

Dr. Travis Stork, emergency room physician and host of “The Doctors,” know how challenging it can be to identifying whole grain products. Shoppers can look for nutritional cues on the front of the box, but they need to read the ingredient list to know if they are getting enough whole grain.

The ingredients listed on the ingredients list is done by order of prevalence. If the words “whole grain” are followed by a grain like wheat or oats, it means the food contains more whole grain than any other single ingredient. 

Here is a handy info-graphic that gives you more information. You will need to click on it to bring up a larger view (you might have to click it a second time if you happen to be taken to another page – sorry about that).

Dr. Stork has some recommendations to help you include more whole grains into your diet. of whole grain.

-  Start Early. The Dietary Guidelines recommend people get at least 48 grams of whole grain in their daily diets. Get a jump-start on the day’s nutrition by incorporating whole grain into your morning routine. For instance, when choosing cereal make sure whole grain is listed as the first ingredient. One easy choice is cereal with the white check, which have more whole grain than any other single ingredient.

-  Make Simple Swaps. Choose whole grain versions of the foods you love. Great options include whole wheat pasta and whole wheat bread or even whole grain crackers. Also, try different types of whole grain. Use brown rice instead of white rice as a side dish at dinner or popcorn, which is a whole grain, for a snack.

-  Don’t Judge a Food by Its Cover. The front of food packages provide good nutritional cues, but don’t forget to read the ingredients and check the nutrition label and side labels for additional health information. Cereals with the white check even include the amount of whole grain per serving on packaging.

In order to help consumers choose products with whole grain, General Mills developed “Fast Lane for Whole Grain,” an online educational game. This fun and educational game allows consumers to navigate a virtual grocery store and identify products that have whole grain as the first ingredient. At the end of the game you can enter a sweepstakes to win one of each of the 50 cereals with the white check.

To make it easier for you to identify cereals with whole grains, General Mills has put a white check on many of it’s popular cereals including Lucky Charms (my favorite), Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios (my second favorite), Total and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

For more information on the importance of whole grain and a chance to enter the “Fast Lane for Whole Grain” sweepstakes, visit www.WholeGrainNation.com.

I have a tasty giveaway for my readers, thanks to My Blog Spark and General Mills. The winner will received boxes of the following cereals, all of which have the white check indicating that whole grains is the first ingredient.

- Lucky Charms

- Cheerios

- Honey Nut Cheerios

- Total

- Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

To enter please comment on how you add more whole grains into your diet?

For extra entries you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done. Extra entries are optional. 

- Subscribe to She Scribes via RSS or E-mail. Both options are found on the right side bar.

- “Like” General Mills on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/pages/General-Mills/112649325414107.

- “Like” She Scribes on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/SheScribes.

- Follow General Mills on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/GeneralMills.

- Follow She Scribes on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/She_Scribes and tweet about this giveaway. Please include @She_Scribes in the tweet so I can see it too. This is limited to three tweets per day.

- Share this giveaway with others on Facebook, Digg, Technorati and so forth. Be sure to tell me what you did and please provide a name and/or URL so I can verify.

- Leave a thoughtful comment on a non-giveaway post on She Scribes and tell me which post you commented on. There is a limit of one comment per post, but you can comment on as many posts as you want for an unlimited extra entry option.

- Post about this giveaway on your site and please link back to this post. Please provide the URL.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on January 24, 2012 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply with a name and mailing address (no PO Box). Failure to do so will result in a new winner will be chosen in their place.

Other fun giveaways can be found on the right side bar under “Win It”.

Kimberly

* I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own. The products, information and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark

I thought my readers would enjoy these “health-ful” tips from celebrity nutritionist Keri Glassman.

The New Year is a great time to start fresh, in every aspect of your life. From your beauty regimen to what you find in your pantry, you shouldn’t start 2012 with 2011 leftovers!

That’s why celebrity nutritionist Keri Glassman partnered with Arnold and Oroweat Sandwich Thins. Keris wants to give you some of her top tips for sticking to that healthy lifestyle that thousands of Americans are now resolved to lead.

How to Eat Healthy in the New Year

By Keri Glassman, RD

1. Set Goals for Yourself - In order to stay motivated throughout the entire year (not just until mid-January!), make sure your goals are both attainable and reasonable. Instead of strictly avoiding certain foods, eat empowered by focusing on what you should eat to help increase your overall health and meet your weight goals. Goals to keep you healthy throughout the New Year might include things like, incorporating a vegetable into your dinner daily or exercising for 45 minutes four times per week. Make goals that work for you, but it’s ok to set the bar high, too!

2. Incorporate a Superfood Into Every Meal - Superfoods are those foods that go beyond basic nutrition and offer extraordinary health benefits. Try adding blueberries to your morning oatmeal, having a hearty black bean soup for lunch, and salmon with broccoli and a baked sweet potato for dinner. Other amazing Superfoods include—spinach, apples, oranges, pumpkin, walnuts, and almonds.

3. Eat More Whole Grains - Whole grains are a key component of healthy eating. They are a great source of fiber (as well as essential vitamins and minerals). Fiber promotes satiety and keeps you feeling full which prevents you from snacking throughout the day. Whole grains will also help keep you healthy by lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Arnold®/Oroweat® Sandwich Thins® rolls are a great way to get them in! Other delicious sources include brown rice, oats, quinoa, and even popcorn!

4. Stash Healthy Snacks - It is easy to make poor food decisions when you are on the go, so keep your purse, car, gym bag, etc. stocked with nutritious and filling snacks. Have your emergency go-to stash that works for you. Here are some ideas:

-  Nuts such as pecans, cashews, almonds, walnuts in individual bags.

-  High fiber crackers (they act as a good “vehicle” for turkey, peanut butter or cheese).

-  Whole fruit (apples and bananas are least messy!).

A little planning ahead will help you say no to unhealthy temptations throughout the year!

5. Fill Up On Water and Tea - Drinking enough H2O is one of the most important things you can do for your body every day. Not only does it play a role in many body processes such as flushing out toxins and delivering key nutrients to cells, it also helps you to avoid overeating. You won’t mistake hunger for thirst if you are properly hydrated.  If plain water bores you, try:

-  Adding sliced lemon or limes.

-  Keeping pitcher of water with fruit pieces or slices in it in fridge so you get the fruit flavor you love.

-  Remember, herbal tea counts toward your daily water intake.

For some tasty and healthy recipes check out Arnold at www.ArnoldBreads.com. They have some unique sandwich idea (I like the PB&J “Sushi”). You can also check them out on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/ArnoldOroweatBread.

Arnold is also known as Orowheat Bread in some parts of the country. Same great tasting, good for you breads, just a different name.

Kimberly

*I was not compensated for this post. I posted this information for the benefit and enjoyment of my site readers. Any opinions expressed are my own. 

I am trying to lose weight as one of my (many) goals of the New Year. Losing weight is never easy, or at least that has been my personal experience. The top three things that make me go off my diet (I hate that term) are…

1. Temptation

2. Not seeing results fast enough

3. Hunger 

I am easily tempted by things I know I should not have. That temptation often leads to cravings. I tend to always give in to my cravings. They are too powerful and I cannot fight through them. The trick is for me is NOT to be tempted by something so that I don’t have to worry about the cravings getting the best of me.

I am one of those people that need to see results to stay motivated. When I see that I’m losing a few pounds and inches it inspires me to continue on my healthy lifestyle. The moment I hit a plateau, or I gain any weight back, I get upset and frustrated. Since I’m an emotional eater my frustration always ends in eating things that are not good for me, and too much of them too (Hello Ben & Jerry…).

Another difficult thing for me to deal with is hunger. Some “diets” don’t give you enough to eat, or reduce your calories way too much, too soon. I am often left feeling hungry. When that hungry feeling gets too strong I make a bee line to the kitchen and inhale whatever food I can find.

Of the three things that knock me off my healthy eating program (diet) is hunger. The other two things I hav found some things that I can do to deal with them. However feeling hungry is something I tend to struggle with.

I am not one to take supplements but I was curious about Slim Select, which is a healthy, natural appetite control and weight loss formula for women. It was developed by Dr. Susan Lark. 

Slim Select has  a unique combination formula that will help women lose weight by achieving three goals: increase metabolism, control appetite and reduce snacking by more than 50 percent and help maintain normal blood sugar levels.  

Blood sugar levels reap havoc on your body. When your blood sugar levels rise and fall it can cause you to feel overwhelmingly hungry. That is where Slim Select comes in. The formula is suppose to maintain blood sugar levels and help take the edge off of feeling hungry. As a result you don’t find yourself diving into the fridge at 2:00 AM eating leftovers.

So how well does Slim Select work? So far, so good. I am using it in conjunction with a weight loss program. I have found that it has helped to take the edge off of being hungry. Until my body gets used to the new diet program I am trying out, Slim Select helps to keep me from getting hungry and eating when I’m not suppose to.

I have not felt jittery or anything like that since taking the Slim Select. I have not noticed any side effects at all.

As far as feeling hungry, I do think that the supplements are helping. I know from past experiences with diet programs that I DO get hungry, at least until my body gets used to it. Taking these supplements, along with the program I am test driving, seems to have prevented me from having any of those “I-am-so-hungry-I-am-going-to-eat-the-dog” feelings.

I have a one month supply to test out, and I have only been using them for about two weeks. So far, so good. I’ll post an update in a couple of weeks and let you know my over all thoughts about the product. In the mean time I thought I would share some healthy weight loss tips from Dr. Lark.

Dr. Susan Lark’s Top 5 Healthy Weight Loss Tips

-  Increase your intake of metabolism-boosting foods: Boost your metabolism by consuming raw almonds, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), whole grains (like quinoa, amaranth, brown rice and buckwheat), cold-water fish (such as wild salmon, tuna and mackerel) and green tea.

-  Avoid fad diets, and dieting overall, and stick to a Mediterranean-type eating plan. The Mediterranean “diet” is abundant in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, dried beans, nuts, onions, garlic, fresh herbs, olives, olive oil, fish and poultry. With this plan you won’t feel deprived and your health will dramatically improve, with significant weight loss as a wonderful side effect.

-  Curb cravings with saffron: Saffron affects certain brain chemicals causing an increase in fullness and satisfaction, blunting the triggers of emotional eating and promoting the loss of both fat and weight.

-  Walk – it’s the best aerobic exercise for everyone. Brisk walking at the same pace as an average jogger is a significantly better workout than jogging as it burns more energy, consumes more oxygen and results in higher heart rates without jarring the joints. 

-  Gain muscle by lifting weights. Unfortunately, women progressively lose muscle and gain fat mass as they get older. Incorporating strength training into a workout routine will help retrieve lost muscle mass while also improving bone density. Plus, as muscle burns more calories than fat, muscle aids in weight loss.

To learn more about Slim Select, or Healthy Directions, LLC, visit www.HealthyDirections.com. For complimentary weight loss tips and advice from Dr. Lark you can visit www.DrLark.com.

Slim Select retails for $34.99 for a 30-day supply.

Kimberly

*I recevied a free product sample in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own.

I really need to get back on track and start loosing weight again. I was doing good for a while over the summer but then I got lazy about it. Over the holidays I must have packed on 10+ pounds at least. I try NOT to get on the scale. I avoid it at all costs. I’m only going by how my clothes feel when I wear them. A lot of things that were once loose and comfortable are now getting a bit snug.

For the next two weeks I’m going to be following the Cinch diet plan and using Cinch products. Cinch is from Shaklee, which is a company that has been around for ages.

I’ve tried just about every diet under the sun, but I’m always open to trying new diets because I am hopeful that one day something will just work for me and I can stick with it.

The Cinch diet includes shakes, bars, beverages and a supplement, plus a plan/guide to help you stay on track.

I was sent the starter kit which comes with

-  Vanilla shake mix canister (15 servings)

-  Assorted Cinch shake packets (14 packets)

-  3-in-1 boost™(42 count)

-  Assortment pack snack bars (10 count)

-  Energy tea mix (28 sticks)

-  Daily journals (2)

-  Cinch program guide

-  Cinch logo shaker cup

-  Cinch pedometer

-  Cinch tape measure

The Cinch diet is rather simple.

Breakfast: Supplement, shake or meal replacement bar and water.

Morning Snack: Cinch Energy Tea (optional)

Lunch: Supplement, shake or meal replacement bar, water.

Afternoon Snack: Cinch Snack Bar and Cinch Energy Tea

Dinner: Supplement, water and a nutritious meal

The plan is super easy to follow, as you can see. Although I did forget to take the supplement with dinner.

I started the plan yesterday. It’s going to take me a few days to really get into it.

So far I’m pleased with the Energy Tea Mix. I expected it to be sweet, but it it’s not. It tastes EXACTLY like tea. I’ve had it both cold and hot so far and you can’t tell that you didn’t make this with a tea bag. Since I love unsweetened ice tea I really like this product.

I’m not used to the shakes yet. Don’t get me wrong, they are good (I prefer the chocolate over vanilla). I just have to get used to drinking my meal. Like this morning. After I had the shake and water I was eyeing the bagels because I wanted one of them to0. I guess it’s because I feel the need to chew on something when I’m having a meal. I have to get used to drinking my meal instead.

I’ve been a little hungry, most especially late last night and right now for that matter. I should be having my second shake for lunch in a half hour or so. Right now I’m drinking water to hold myself over until lunchtime.

I will keep you posted on my progress and write more about it later.

To learn more about Shaklee and their products please visit www.Shaklee.com. If you would like to learn more about the Cinch diet plan specifically please visit www.ShakleeCinch.com.

You can also follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #cinchspiration.

Kimberly

*I received free sample products in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own.