Weight Loss — Page 5

My 5 Gym Bag Essentials – And I’m Giving Them Away!

I’m not a sporty type. In fact, I didn’t even own a pair of sneakers until I went to the {super, duper, totally amazing} Nike Kids event a few weeks ago and they gave me some sweet new kicks. But – I’ve been doing the Nutrisystem diet for about two months now, and have lost about 15 pounds already. That has TOTALLY motivated me, and I’ve added more exercise to my days now too. This week I started going for a daily walk with Abby – and lemme tell ya, I’ve learned how out of shape I really am! Those big hills make my legs ache when we get home! So – my old lady self needed a “Smart Solution” product to help, and I’ll share it here in case any of you ladies are in need of some help getting your booty in gear this spring too –

“Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness.” – Earl of Derby

BENGAY is one of those products that’s been around forever, and most of us have probably tried before. Well, now that brand that you totally trust has launched a new product with a cool idea {yep, pun intended. I love puns. They’re punny.} – Let me introduce you to BENGAY Zero Degrees, the first pain reliever that you can keep in your freezer, making it feel uh-MAY-zingly soothing on sore muscles. It’s a glide-on stick, so it’s super easy to apply, with no mess or sticky hands. And it works. It works gooooood.

“If I’d known I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself.” – Eubie Blake

I’m super excited to give one of you lucky ladies this product to try out, totally free, as part of a sweet Gym Bag Essentials kit. This kit has everything that you need to be workout ready:

An insulated over-the-shoulder gym bag in navy blue with black straps.
A branded towel, since you’ll be sweatin’ it up while you’re dropping the pounds.
A super fun workout DVD – Shape up with Karina Smirnoff. Includes a “Love-Handle Burn” – yep, needed that for sure!
My fave hair bands from Scunci, and the super helpful volume boosting dry shampoo from John Frieda, to look good again after your workout.
And of course – the brand new Bengay Zero Degrees, to sooth soreness after the gym.

Wanna win it? Then complete the entries in the easy peasy Rafflecopter entry form below – do as few, or as many, as you like. But remember, the more you complete, the more chances you have to win. Feelin’ lucky? Check out the HUGE list of other prizes that I’m giving away this month, listed together in my sidebar! {And check out my Weight Loss board on Pinterest for more inspiration, tips, and ideas – including some healthy alcoholic summer drinks. Yum!}

Have fun and good luck!

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 8, 2012 Filed Under: Giveaways | 2 Comments

Why this is the perfect snack

Convenient doesn’t have to mean unhealthy. And healthy doesn’t have to mean sacrificing taste. So – If you’re looking for a super simple snack, that’s healthy enough that you feel like a great mom when you feed it to the kids, while being tasty enough that YOU enjoy eating it too – You’re totally in luck. I have another great Busy Mom Solution product for you – PROBAR Fruitrition snack bars. Sooooo good.

“The greatest wealth is health.” – Virgil

I used to rely on granola bars for the kids snacks – But then I realized that honestly, they’re just not much better than a candy bar. They’re so packed full of sugar and corn syrup and chocolate chips – They are not a real great choice. But they’re yummy, and they’re simple to grab and go. Then I went looking for some good Gluten Free snacks to have in the house, since during the summer we have a TON of kids here all the time using the pool – and I wanted to make sure we have snacks to fit all of their different dietary needs, you know? When I tried these great Fruitrition bars, I knew we’d found a winner! Seriously – this chocolate orange flavor tastes like a gourmet chocolate from my favorite candy shop. Uh-MAY-zing. Best part? They have a full serving of fruit in each bar, and are only 160 calories – meaning they can fit into my Nutrisystem diet too!

“If I’d known I was going to live so long, I’d have taken better care of myself.” – Leon Eldred

If you want to upgrade your snack foods too – You totally have to check out these bars. You should be able to find them at some of your favorite local stores – but if not, you can order online too, AND I’ve got a sweet savings discount code you can use too:

Visit theprobar.com, and enter code “BLOGGER” at checkout to save 40% off your order! Awesome, right?

My favorite is by FAR the Chocolate Orange – but there’s also a ton of other goodies to choose from – strawberry bar, but you can’t go wrong with peach, cherry, lemon, blueberry, strawberry and cran-raspberry. So whether you’re buying these as a healthier alternative for the kiddos, or for a way better snack choice for yourself, you’ll find a perfect flavor. And hey – It’s not just me saying that they rock, they just won an award from Prevention Magazine too – check it out, and have another reason why these are a total must-have in any snack cupboard this spring!

Wanna try ’em for FREE?

Of course you do! So use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below to enter to WIN a case filled with ALL of the new PROBAR Fruitrition bars – this is an almost $40 value, which is a LOT of snacks. So cool. Then when you’re done, check out the list of other sweet prizes that I’m giving away this month too, over in the sidebar. The more you enter, the more chances you have to win!

Have Fun & Good Luck!

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 3, 2012 Filed Under: Giveaways | 2 Comments

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

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

Week 6 Results: 3 Ways Nutrisystem Has Helped Me Lose Over 10 Pounds So Far!

“The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph!” – Marvin Phillips

I can’t believe it. Seriously – I was so incredibly and amazingly surprised when I stepped on the scale for this weeks weigh-in. I’d lost 2.8 pounds in a week??? That is uh-MAY-zing!! My goal was to lose 1-2 pounds a week, for the 4 months that I’m doing the Nutrisystem diet plan. That would be a loss of around25-30 pounds. But, my long-term goal is to lose about 40-50 pounds, so I was cautiously optimistic that I could lose weight faster…. For the first month, I totally met my goal each week – and now I’m able to push it a little higher too! My starting weight was 189.2, so I’ve lost a total now of 10.2 pounds – and it wasn’t even hard at all – I swear, Nutrisystem makes this sooooo easy. Let me tell you why:

There’s structure. This is perfect for a crazy-busy mom life myself – I just don’t have time to measure portions, count calories, or figure out when and what I should eat to ensure I’m losing this old baby weight. With Nutrisystem, you get a months worth of awesome meals and desserts, so you always have perfectly portioned options to just grab and go! They even tell you exactly which fresh grocery items to add to each meal too – Smart Carbs, Power Fuels, and veggies!
Optimized Nutrition. So – maybe you do have time to measure and prep and count calories on your own. But do you know how to truly maximize your meals for optimal weight loss? Nutrisystem meals are low glycemic to burn calories quickly, protein rich to keep you feeling full, and balanced for a well rounded daily diet. I love knowing that whatever I choose to eat all day – I’m eating the best foods to fuel me for success. Seriously.
Tools for Support. There are tons of awesome online tools to help you stay on motivated and moving towards your goals. You also get a paper tracking notebook to use each day at home. There is a full support community online – people just like you, sharing their challenges and solutions, and helping you celebrate your success. There is even a team of experts on hand to answer all of your questions.

Really, what more can you ask for? This is the easiest diet I’ve ever been on – it’s totally no-brainer to put my meals together, meaning less stress on me. The food is really and truly good – I LOVE my morning breakfast scramble and chocolate shake. Heck, I can even have pizza for dinner – and every night I get to have a dessert! I am getting more and more pumped about this, the more weight that I lose…. See ya next week!!

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

WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT AND GET HEALTHY ON NUTRISYSTEM?

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 9, 2012 Filed Under: Nutrisystem | 5 Comments

Nutrisystem Weight Loss Adventure – Week 5 Results

Week 5 on Nutrisystem – Results are Rockin’!

Over the course of the first month on the Nutrisystem program, I was really proud to meet my goal of losing at least a pound a week. So this month, I wanted to try to double that – And so far, so good!!! I was SUPER excited to step on the scale on Sunday for my weekly weigh-in, and see that I had lost almost 2.5 pounds over the week. I seriously can’t believe it – I have tried for over a year to get this baby weight off, and couldn’t get that scale to budget one bit. This is rockin’ – and I couldn’t be happier!

Why I love Nutrisystem…

The Nutrisystem plan includes a ton of variety in the foods that you get to choose from each day, and you even get to add in your own snacks – which means that it’s a perfect fit for anyone who needs help losing weight. Here are a few of the reasons why it works so perfectly for me –

I’m a busy mom. I don’t have time to carefully measure portions and count up all of the calories in the ingredients that I cook with. Some days I barely have time TO eat, let alone add in a bunch of extra steps. With Nutrisystem, it’s so simple to eat right – I just grab something marked lunch, add in a salad or string cheese, and I can eat and enjoy, knowing that my meals are balanced and healthy.
The foods are great. I really expected that the foods wouldn’t be very good. So many “diet” foods have that yucky artificial type of taste, or worse – have no taste at all! But on Nutrisystem, I get to enjoy awesome dinners like Citrus Barbeque Glazed Pork, healthy Chicken Enchiladas, or the deliciously spicy Adobo Rubbed Pork. So good!
There are tons of shelf-stable options. This is really great for me – I can throw a meal bar in my purse to eat if I know I’ll be out running errands, or bring along a chocolate muffin for morning playdates. Next week I’m headed on a business trip to Fort Worth, Texas, and will be able to pack a few of these options in my bag, to help me stay on track while away from home.

There are so many great features about this program – it is seriously so easy to follow.

Busy moms need flexibility, and Nutrisystem provides that

It’s so easy to make Nutrisystem a part of your daily routines – there are tons of delicious food choices, you get to add in great fruits, veggies, and healthy snacks, and everything is in perfect portion sizes, making it easy as can be to stay on track. Add in the totally helpful online tools and amazing support community – and you have everything you need to start losing weight too!

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

WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT AND GET HEALTHY ON NUTRISYSTEM?

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 2, 2012 Filed Under: Nutrisystem | No Comments

Nutrisystem: Wanna See My One-Month Weight-Loss Results?

One Month of Nutrisystem = 5 Pounds Lost!

Dang…. I absolutely HATE seeing myself on a scale – and seeing SUCH a high numbers! Never in my life would I have imagined that I’d weigh this much… But thankfully, I have the support system at Nutrisystem to keep me on track, and keep me motivated towards getting back to a number on the scale that I can be proud to share here with you guys.

My Goals for Nutrisystem

When I first was getting started with Nutrisystem, I took a full set of measurements, from thighs and hips to arms and chest, so that I could track my progress. The number on the scale is important – but my shape is what matters more, since it’s what determines whether I’ll get my booty back into those pre-baby jeans or not. Nutrisystem gives you a great online support system, filled with awesome tracking tools – so that’s where I added in my measurements and starting weight. I wanted to lose at least a pound or two per week, and hopefully see a measurable difference in my curves after the first month….

I Met all of my Weight Loss goals!

Woooo! While I would’ve loved to see a little more weight loss, I’m very happy with 5 pounds in 4 weeks. As long as I keep losing at least a pound a week, I’ll feel like I’m making progress. And – I lost about a half-inch on almost ALL of my measurements – waist, hips, chest, arms, and thighs. That was pretty exciting to see! I’ve been getting more activity in my day, but haven’t been doing any major exercise yet – so these results make me really happy.

What’s Next for me and Nutrisystem

This month, I’d love to really push myself harder to exercise, and lose 10 pounds. I admit to cheating a couple of times last month – and still lost 5 pounds. So, if I can avoid those things that test my willpower – {lunches out with friends, taco night with the kids} – for a few weeks, I know I can do it.