For Mom — Page 9

Nutrisystem Week 9 Updates

Those of you who have been following my Nutrisystem journey so far know that I have been super happy with my experience. Is it easy? No, not really. But it’s not all that difficult either. I’d never struggled with my weight until I had a baby, so I guess I just wasn’t prepared for how hard it would be to lose the 70+ pounds that I gained while pregnant. {Yep, over 70. I did pre-natal yoga, ate amazingly healthy foods, but just blew up like a freakin’ balloon. My mom and grandma both did too. Just my lucky set of genes I guess, lol.} But – after over a year of trying to lose the weight on my own, I finally found something that WORKS for me – Nutrisystem!

“No Matter How Slow You Go, You’re Still Lapping Everyone on the Couch.”

I’ve read so many stories where people had super crazy-fast weight loss, but that’s not my goal. I wanted to lose 1-2 pounds a week, and so far I’ve been able to stick to that for 9 weeks now! I’ve lost a total of 15 pounds, which is pretty awesome. And – one of my favorite things about Nutrisystem is the total support and encouragement from everyone! I just got this little cutie in the mail a few days ago, congratulating me on losing my first 10 pounds. How cool is that?

“It doesn’t always get easier. You just get better.”

These adorable little Nutribears are only one of the ways that Nutrisystem helps me keep moving towards success – There are a ton of other really great tools that they provide for free with your monthly shipments, that make a serious difference for me:

Progress Reports: This is where I can track my weight, measurements, and goals every week, to see a great picture of what kind of progress I’m making in losing weight – and doing other healthy stuff like getting enough exercise.
Recipe Center: This is one of my favorites! From cool recipes that feature the Nutrisystem shake powder as their main ingredient, to amazing ideas like Mozzarella Sticks made from Nutrisystem products, you can always find new ideas to shake up your daily meal routines. Love it.
Discussion Boards: This is a great resource – ask questions from others who are going through the same things that you are, connect with great people who are seeing tons of success on Nutrisystem, and learn new ways to stay on track and motivated.
The Daily Dose: This is just one of the tools available in the Inform & Inspire section – but it’s my favorite one. I love the quick motivational stories and tips each morning!

There are SOOOO many other great tools, resources, and tips on the Nutrisystem site. Seriously, it’s awesome. When you combine that great support with the easy to prepare foods, and easy instructions for add on items like fresh fruits and veggies – I feel totally confident recommending this to any mom who needs some help getting that baby weight off before summer hits!

WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT AND GET HEALTHY ON NUTRISYSTEM?

Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting Nutrisystem.com. It’s simple to get started, the foods are actually really good, with loads of variety. Heck – you even get to have chocolate cake or ice cream each night for dessert, how great is that? Get started today – it’s the best choice you’ll make this year!

Read more about my Nutrisystem Weight Loss journey, and follow my Weight Loss board on Pinterest too!

{Disclaimer: I’m receiving a complimentary membership and access to all Nutrisystem products and services, to review here for you. All photos, opinions, and results here are 100% my own personal experience – and may vary for others.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 1, 2012 Filed Under: Nutrisystem | No Comments

What did YOU expect when you were expecting? #Giveaway

What did YOU expect when you were expecting?

I think we all probably read at least part of the book What to Expect When You’re Expecting when we were pregnant, right? Whether you were like me and bought it the minute you found out you were having a baby, got it as a shower gift, or just browsed it in a waiting room before for one of the many doctors appointments – It’s a safe bet that most women who’ve had a baby relied on the advice in this book. And now, it’s being updated into a movie – Check out a trailer…

What to Expect when You’re Expecting – Premiers on May 18th

The movie looks hilarious – and while it’s not really based on the book, it does fit perfectly – It’s all about that nervousness and anticipation we all felt during our first pregnancy.

To celebrate the launch of the movie, Playtex Baby is doing a really fun giveaway!

What did you least expect when you were pregnant or a new Mom? We all have great stories to share, and Playtex Baby wants to hear them! Starting April 16th Playtex Baby is holding a contest on their Facebook page, asking Moms to share candid, unexpected moments of pregnancy and motherhood. They will be selecting daily winners, as well as a grand prize winner who will be flown to LA for the premiere of What To Expect When You’re Expecting. The film will feature Playtex Baby products including the Playtex® Nurser with Drop-Ins® Liners and the Playtex® Diaper Genie® Disposal System! So what are you waiting for – log on and share your story today!

I’d love to hear YOUR story too – What surprises did you have during your pregnancy or delivery? Share in the comments….

{Disclaimer: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Playtex Baby. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 30, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | No Comments

Kate Spade Spring Fashion Giveaway – $425

Are you ready to own a sweet new Kate Spade handbag?

I’ve joined up for another fun giveaway event with some great blogging buddies! We teamed up to give you a chance to win this awesome navy Kate Spade purse, perfect for spring, valued at $425! Can you say, amazing!!

Powered by Madame Deals and Slop Swap

Thank you to our hosts for helping run this great event: Become a Coupon Queen, Deals In Heels, Coupons For Your Family, Shopping Tips and Tricks. You know that I’m totally excited for spring fashions, and this bag would be the perfect addition to any outfit, from casual to super dressy! I’m super in love.

Giveaway will run April 30 12:01 am EST – May 10 11:59 pm EST

You have a lot of chances to WIN! To enter, first complete the mandatory entry, the click “I did it!” Then it will unlock the bonus entries, and you can enter as few, or as many, as you like. And – if you’re feelin’ lucky, check out the list in my sidebar of all the other awesome prizes I’m giving away this month!

Wait for the Rafflecopter to load and enter below – Good Luck!

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 29, 2012 Filed Under: Giveaways | 15 Comments

What’s lurking under Your Kitchen Sink? The #GetClean Makeover!

As moms, our biggest job in life is keeping our kids safe. Yes – we want them to be so many things: funny as heck, star athletes, amazingly talented performers, creators of beautiful artwork, compassionate and kind individuals, and much more. But – the #1 job is keeping them safe, so that they can grow into those amazing people we imagine that they’ll become. And one of the ways that we keep our little ones safe is by keeping our home clean, and free from dangerous germs, right? Well – these facts may surprise the heck out of you:

Is your home dirtier after you clean it?

You totally get this great feeling when you’ve cleaned, scrubbed, and disinfected your whole house, right? But – you would NEVER let your little ones play with toxic chemicals, so why would you use them to clean up a spill on the floor that they play on??

The EPA says that only a portion of the 81,00o registered chemicals in household cleaners, only a fraction have been tested for health concerns.
More than 9 out of 10 accidental poisonings happen at home – many from household cleaners.
Due to the use of air fresheners and cleaners, the levels of organic pollutants is 2 to 5 times higher INSIDE your home, then outside.

So what do you do? Well, you can learn about a new Smart Mom Solution I’m really excited about, that will help you clean your home with cleaners that don’t leave more toxins than the toxins their supposed to clean.

A Healthier Life for Everyone and a Better Life for Anyone

I’m always looking for new household cleaning helpers that are cleaner, greener, safer – but still really WORK. I’m also all about living a frugal lifestyle, so I hate spending a ridiculous amount of money on cleaners with fancy package, that call themselves “Green”, with no real facts to back that up. But these have all been reviewed and endorsed for their safety by Healthy Child Healthy World, who I totally trust for good information. I am incredibly glad that I was introduced to Shaklee – this is now my new go-to brand, and can easily just about everything else I was using in my home!

The #GetClean Under Sink Makeover!

This is my under-sink kitchen makeover – Notice how many LESS products I have under there by switching to the Shaklee products? I counted 17 different cleaners, sprays, wipes, and powders in my cupboard in the “Before” pic – but with the Shaklee Starter Kit, I only have 6 – plus some great reusable cleaning cloths which allow me to get rid of all those rolls of paper towels. I totally encourage you to take a look under your sink, and then check out the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources website, Household Products Database – and learn about the crazy-harmful chemicals that you are wiping onto your counters, scrubbing onto your dishes, and spraying into your air. It is insane – seriously.

Makeover YOUR Kitchen Sink!

I used the Shaklee Starter Kit to replace all of that super yucky toxic junk under my sink. It’s a bit of an upfront investment – Around $100 bucks for the set. BUT – when you make your cleaners, you fill each bottle with water, and less than a teaspoon of concentrate from a big full-size bottle. Can you even imagine how long that is going to last?? Here are a few great benefits:

It’s Frugal: Frugal isn’t about spending less, it’s about spending smart. And you would spend $3400 for ready to use cleaners to get the same amount of clean found in the Get Clean Starter Kit! Can you say value?
It’s Safe: No harmful fumes or hazardous chemicals. If you have kids with asthma, eczema, or any other sensitivities – imagine what a difference that could make for them?
It Works: They say that it rivals or outperforms 20 national leading brands – I can tell you that every product that I have works just as well or better than any of the major brand products that I replaced. And I’m a clean freak, with pretty high standards on that stuff.
Eco Friendly: Not only are they better on the earth due to the lack of gross chemicals that will end up polluting the air and water – But with their refillable packaging and concentrated products, you keep 108 pounds of packaging waste from landfills!

Awesome Fact: My favorite product, the Basic H2® Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate – just 1/4 tsp. makes 16oz. of all-purpose cleaner for only 3 cents!!! Whaaaaat? Yep, it’s true.

You can learn more about the Shaklee line, including their healthy weight and nutrition products, other home items, and even a healthy beauty line – on their website. And be sure to follow Shaklee on Facebook and Twitter too, to stay updated on new products and promotions.

{Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product kit from Mom Spark Media to facilitate this review. All photos and opinions are 100% my own – I love this stuff, and know you will too!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 25, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 2 Comments

KitchenAid Artisan Mixer Giveaway!

The pvc fittings company Commercial Industrial Supply is giving away a KitchenAid Artisan Mixer!

(prize details)

a Commercial Industrial Supply giveaway powered by Rafflecopter

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 25, 2012 Filed Under: Giveaways | 6 Comments

Diet for a Day – See My Results

Have you been wondering how my Nutrisystem journey is going? Wondering why you hadn’t seen an update lately? Well – I missed last week’s post, and am late on this week’s, because my site got hacked and was down for almost 6 days! Yikes, right? But as of this morning – I’m BAAACK, bay-bee!! And I’m here to share a little more about how things are going for me, and what results I’m seeing. But first – I’d like to give you a taste of what it’s like following the Nutrisystem plan. Check it out, see if it’s a good fit for you too – and learn my latest results at the bottom of the post…

Breakfast Time – 6:00 am

I love so many of the breakfast options at Nutrisystem – but this one is definitely my favorite. Super yummy, and so filling. I have this in the morning with one of the awesome chocolate shakes – Love that cool shaker container that they send for mixing these. Works amazing! And the protein in the shakes really does help me from getting hungry again for awhile. Plus, all breakfast frozen options take only 1-2 minutes to pop in the microwave, making it quick and easy to grab and then jump on the computer and get to work.

Morning Snack Time – 9:00 am

A couple hours after breakfast I grab a quick snack. For this option, you add in what’s called a PowerFuel – things like a string cheese, yogurt, or a hard-boiled egg. You can also add in a non-starchy veggie too, if you’re hungry. {Some days are crazier than others – and with all the rushing around, I find myself hungrier than usual!} I also love that the snacks that are good for my diet are also good for the kids – and make great healthy options for Abby to snack with me during the day.

Lunch Time: 12:00 noon

For lunch, you just grab any of your easy to prepare options, and they’re even marked with the big lunch label, making them easy to find. You can get frozen options like an Italian Style Turkey & Sausage Melt or this uh-MAY-zing Margherita Pizza, or shelf-stable portions of soups or pastas. Pair your lunch entree with another PowerFuel, and as many non-starchy veggies as you like! I usually build a big salad at lunch time – it fills me up, and gets me a ton of servings of veggies. {You’re allowed 3 “extras” per day – which is where you get the dressing for your salad.}

Afternoon Snack: 3:00 pm

I eat a snack right before the boys get home from school – so that I’m full, and not tempted to eat any of the not-so-diet-friendly snacks that they might crave when they get home. The afternoon snack is a SmartCarb – I usually add in a fruit – something like raisins, an orange, or a banana. If I’m not using many extras in my days meals – I’ll have a bowl of strawberries and a bit of non-fat whip cream. Mmmmmm :)

Dinner time: 6:00 pm

This is my FAVORITE of the Nutrisystem dinner entrees – the Citrus BBQ Glazed Pork! The texture of the meat is amazing, I’ve never had a frozen dinner be so good. The flavor is awesome – the combo of sweet and spicy is SO good. At dinner you add another SmartCarb – so I usually add a whole grain roll, or a side of baked beans if it fits the meal. Then I add more veggies – either another big salad, or my favorite – A big serving of green beans! Man, I could eat a whole can of those. I can’t wait until my garden gets going this year, and I can have fresh ones each night. I love that all of my meals, all day long, are already measured to perfect portions, balanced with great nutrition, and protein-packed to keep me powered up. It’s so simple to grab, munch and enjoy, and go!

Dessert: 9:00 pm

While I finish up blogging work at the computer late at night, I always crave a little treat. That is my very favorite thing about the Nutrisystem plan – they make it easy to follow by not restricting you from your favorite foods. Every single night you can choose a dessert – from a piece of chocolate cake or a white-chocolate chunk cookie – to frozen options like a creamy fudge or orange cream bar. If you’re more of a salty type, you can choose from cheese puffs or buttery popcorn. Love it, right?

Read more about my Nutrisystem Weight Loss journey, and follow my Weight Loss board on Pinterest too!

Now… For the Results!

Well, I have to admit it – I didn’t see as much loss the past two weeks as I would have liked to. But, I was also at a conference in Texas for 4 days – and between the hotel breakfast, airport food, and dinners out, it was really tough to stay on track. But – thanks to following this plan for so long now, I am totally able to make better choices, and realize what a “real” portion looks like. {Can you say – Doggie Bag Please??} – But, I AM still losing! Last weigh in was 179 pounds. I’m now at 177 – so only a pound per week for the past two weeks. BUT…

My Last Measurements

These were taken at the end of my first month on the Nutrisystem plan, and I saw a decrease in every single category, versus my original measurements. Not a huge change – but it was measurable, and that totally thrilled me.

Upper Arms: 13.0
Chest: 41.5
Waist: 36.0
Hips: 43.5
Thighs: 24.5

So… What did I see in this next set of measurements?? I’d only lost 2 pounds, but I HAD been super active. With the travel, the constant action of the conference I attended, and the extra exercise that I’ve been adding into my day, I was hoping to see at least a slight change….

My New Measurements:

These were taken today – Date: 04/24/2012. Check ’em out babeeeeee – I am so super excited to see that again, I have lost a measurable amount in EVERY single category. How amazing is this??

Upper Arms: 12.0
Chest: 42.0
Waist: 35.5
Hips: 41.5
Thighs: 22.5

If you add it all up – that’s a total of 6 inches that I’ve lost off of this body! Woah. Yes – the results are not super dramatic. But – this is not a quick-fix diet. This is all about healthy lifestyle changes, and long-term weight loss. I am totally blown away by both how easy it is, and how effective it’s been for me – even when I’m not able to follow it perfectly, while I’m away on business trips. Imagine what it can do for you too!

WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT AND GET HEALTHY ON NUTRISYSTEM?

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 24, 2012 Filed Under: Nutrisystem | No Comments

The Phrase “Working Mother” is Redundant…

“THE PHRASE “WORKING MOTHER” IS REDUNDANT.” – Unknown

I found this perfectly funny little story on Facebook today – it came from my very favorite Scentsy rep – Lucinda Faragher. {Love Scentsy? Check her out – She is the so amazingly helpful, love her. Anyway – I think all of you will totally relate to this too. And after the crazy-stressful-awful week I’ve just been through with my website getting hacked, I am in need of some good laughs! If you’ve got a funny post to share – leave me some comments. Totally need to read some humor today!

Life in the Motherhood…

A man came home from work and found his 3 children outside, still in their pyjamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn around the yard. The door of his wife’s car was open, as was the front door to the house – and no sign of the dog. Walking in the door, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, the throw rug was against one wall, in the front room the TV was on loudly with the cartoon channel, the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife.

He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.

He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls. As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel… She looked up at him, smiled and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, ‘What happened here today?’ She again smiled and answered, ‘You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world do I do all day?… ”Yes,” was his incredulous reply..

She answered, ‘Well, today I didn’t do it.’

Right?? Love it. So true. And if you are an over-worked mom that appreciates a bit of “mommy humor” – check out my board devoted to it on Pinterest. It’s one of my favorites.

Who else lives this everyday? – The Phrase “Working Mother” is Redundant… #momhumor sunshineandsippycups.com/2012/04/the-ph… via @sunandsipcups

— SunandSipCups (@SunandSipCups) April 25, 2012