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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

It Hurt Me (Good) to the Core {Free Fab Ab Video}

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Try-It Tuesday:

Every mom, except maybe Heidi Klum, has to work to get her abs back after giving birth.

Too bad in my case, I’m still looking to get some in the first place.

Bellybands, girdles and Spanx are very useful in creating optical illusions, but when it comes down to it, nothing beats working out that core section to create those coveted Jennifer Aniston abs.

Unfortunately, while practice does make perfect, it is hard to pony up to a pilates class because when you hear “100,” you think it means it’s a sponsored Nabisco snack time. (That’s another story.)

Thankfully, Jill Miller has created a solution that helps you build-up those abs layer-by-layer to help you overcome core and abdominal weakeness caused by underuse, injury and scar tissue (i.e. babies.) Through  her seven sequences that can be completed at home in no matter what shape you’re in, she works to create a strong, flexible and balanced core with her newest video in her Yoga Tune-Up series, Coregeous (yep, say “goregeous” with a “c.”)



While I won’t be sharing my first experience working through the video, I can definitely admit – my abs have been worked in ways I never thought possible. After being in bed due to illness, I need a lot of help. And if I can get up off the floor tomorrow, I’ll be doing this again and again…(How else am I going to make Ryan Gosling mistakenly call me Eva?)

FREE ALERT: Wondering if this is for you? Jill’s really nice and has some free videos for you to check out online.


Coregeous with Jill Miller
$14-$19 

DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC’s 16 CFR Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

Ready to Join ShredderNation? 6 Weeks, 4 inches, 2 sizes

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Disclaimer: I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review.

Each weekend I’m concentrating on a new diet plan in efforts to create a BETTER ME in 2013…While my first diet review of the year, “The Silver Cloud Diet” had some great benefits, I just couldn’t just stick to only meats, nuts and eggs for a week. So this week I’m looking at a plan that promises in 6 weeks you can lose 4 inches and/or 2 sizes if you follow his plan of food and exercise.

Dr. Ian Smith’s SHRED: The Revolutionary Diet has some pretty big follwers already…with a Facebook page with more than 13,000 likes, appearances on Dr. Oz and locally on WFAA’s Good Morning Texas, and the #1 selling diet book in the country, I figured it was time to open this baby up and see what all the fuss is all about.

“ShredderNation” as he refers to his following of those who are participating on the plan or have completed the diet plan (100,000 people and growing), is all about eating…all the time, with a low-glycemic diet plan of four meals and three snacks in order to introduce your body to “diet confusion” (basically eating different kinds of foods to boose your metabolism and increase weight loss.)  Sounds like magic, right?  With a six-part program, the book outlines flexible choices for every meal, snack and exercise throughout the plan. And then once you’ve completed the plan, you shouldn’t need the program since you’ve learned how to eat appropriately. I was impressed, but it’s all in the food for me, so I wanted to share a part of the Day 1, so you can see if this plan is for you:

SHRED© Week 1 Day #1
Note: 1 cup of coffee is allowed each day. Please put minimal amounts sugar and milk in the coffee.
Definitely stay away from those coffee concoctions that are full of calories–caramel macchiato, cinnamon dolce latte, caffé latte, etc.
**If you choose the diet soda as your beverage, you are only allowed to have one 12 oz can per day maximum. The hope is that you will choose beverages that are more nutritious.
**2 slices of 100% whole grain or 100% whole wheat can be consumed at any point throughout the day at any time; however, ONLY 2 slices
Meal 1
1 piece of fruit
Choose only one of the following.
1 small bowl of oatmeal
2 egg whites
1 egg white omelet (made with two egg whites max. with diced veggies)
1 small bowl of sugar-free cereal with fat-free, skim, or 1% fat milk
1 container of low-fat or fat-free yogurt
1 cup of fresh juice not from concentrate(grapefruit, apple, orange juice, tomato, carrot)
Snack 1
100 calories or less
Meal 2
Choose one of the following. Remember, your choice must not exceed 300 calories and must not have any added sugars.
1 fruit smoothie
1 protein shake
1 bowl of soup (no potatoes, no cream sauces, no meat) -good examples: vegetable, lentil, chickpea, split pea, black bean, tomato bisque, etc. Be careful of sodium content!
1 piece of fruit or 1 serving of veggies
Beverage Choices. Choose one of the following.
1 12-oz can of diet soda
1 cup of lemonade (freshly squeezed preferred)
Unlimited plain water (flat or fizzy)
1 cup of flavored watered
1 cup of juice (not from concentrate)
1 cup of unsweetened iced tea or any other type of tea
1 cup of low-fat, reduced fat, fat free, unsweetened soy, or unsweetened almond milk
Snack 2
150 calories or less
Meal 3
1 small salad (no bacon, croutons); 3 tbsp fat free dressing only
Choose one of the following.
1 piece of chicken (4-6 oz, no skin, no frying)
1 piece of turkey (4-6 oz, no skin, no frying)
1 piece of fish (4-6 oz, no skin, no frying)
(you can have 1 slice of cheese if desired)
1 serving of veggies
Beverage Choices. Choose one of the following. Make a choice different than the one you made in meal 2.
1 12-oz can of diet soda
1 cup of lemonade (freshly squeezed preferred)
Unlimited plain water (flat or fizzy)
1 cup of flavored watered
1 cup of juice (not from concentrate)
1 cup of unsweetened iced tea or any other type of tea
1 cup of low-fat, reduced fat, fat free, unsweetened soy, or unsweetened almond milk
Exercise
Amount of Exercise Today: Minimum 30 minutes. If you want to do more, all the better! Work as hard as you can from this list of cardiovascular exercises.
So I’ve decided that with a promise of eating constantly and reasonable exercise I can lose 20 pounds, I’m willing to try it at least for a week. 
Want to join me on this mamachallenge? Then buy your copy and let’s get going together. 
What do we have to lose?  I have baby #2 weight gain and hopefully baby #1, too, so it’s worth it to try. 
Shred: The Revolutionary Diet
Ian K. Smith
St. Martin’s Press

The Super “Grain”: Can You Say QUINOA? {Recipes}

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As part of my vow to be a little healthier this year, I’ve decided to broaden my family’s minds (and taste buds) to include more diverse foods like QUINOA.

 I’ll be honest, a few year’s ago I didn’t even know what or how to pronounce it, but now it seems like I keep hearing about it. Then coincidentally on TV this week, Bobby Flay made delicious meal on The Chew using quinoa, so on my last trip to the grocery story – I threw it in the basket. 
Call it peer pressure. 



Of course, the real issue was the next step – what to do with it. While Bobby did give me a good start on a great way to prepare it, he is Bobby Flay…so I wanted to know what my friends had done with it first. So with the help of Facebook, I got tons of responses from family, friends and neighbors on their favorite recipes using this “grain?” 
Since inquiring minds always want to know more, I went Googling what was so dang special about quinoa. According to About.com, first of all, it’s not actually a grain, but a seed. And since Quinoa provides all 9 essential amino acids, it’s considered a complete protein that is gluten-free and cholesterol free. I guess that does make it kinda awesome, but the real question remained, would do I do with it?

Thankfully, one of my friends that is always on top of identifying awesome things way ahead of the curve (he totally has been in love with Mumford and Sons for years), shared some of his tried-and-tasted family recipes for me to try. So while I prepare a little quinoa for dinner tonight (wish me luck), I wanted to share their amazing recipes including his wife’s, Nanette’s Quinoa Salad. 

Do you have a quinoa recipe you’d like to share?

Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment: 

Cauliflower-Recipes-You-Must-Make

Juvederm, Coolsculpting, Tickle Lipo, Cellulaze and Poledancing?

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To-Do Thursdays:

With all the rain that’s come down lately, it sounds like a weekend indoors with board games, Apple TV (my newest love) and lots of blankets. 

However, I am planning to put together my next adventures for January 2013. While some of them should be fun like some of the workouts I’m planning to try, I have to admit there’s an impressive list of treatments and procedures I hope to embark on in the name of facing the MamaChallenge (and hopefully some beautiful benefits.)

Do you have a suggestion of a fitness regimen or a beauty regimen I should learn more about? I’d love to hear it, so email me or comment here!



Get Your Ticket to Ride…Flywheel is Moms’ Dream to Nightclub + Fitness

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Try-It Tuesday:

 One of my favorite parts of our IMPROVED YOU series is our new “Try-It Tuesday.” We all need to exercise, but goodness knows it does get boring running, stepping on the climber or doing your Jane Fonda in front of the boob tube. So I’m taking a look at some of the newer, cooler ways to burn calories and get fit in 2013. 

 My first look is at my latest obsession, FLYWHEEL. First of all, I love spin so I knew I would enjoy this new concept of spin plus a lot, lot more, but I wasn’t sure what to expect. Oh baby, it was a kick-butt kinda time, but I loved every part of it!


My normal basic spin class at my local gym includes a stationery bike with a torque (think a knob with a gear shift) to change you tension as you ride with music, a class full of other riders and your instructor.  You bring your own shoes and ride out for around an hour at your own speed — sweating your hiney off together. (You just better get there on time or you might not get a spot.) 



The Dallas FLYWHEEL class takes places at the FLYWHEEL location in Highland Park. The best way to describe the experience was like a spin class meets a nightclub at a spa. You’re provided your bike shoes and then your off to the “disco room” – a room set up stadium style, that goes dark when the class starts, an instructor seated in the front of the room and a BMW of spin cycles. 

The spin cycle not only included comfortable handles to help you hold on in different postures, but also a torque with a screen to allow you to see exactly what you were (or weren’t doing) in class. That torque made sure you were pulling your weight, but that’s not all. The board really made you work it, especially if you’re a competitive type. If you choose, you can choose a name to “compete” on the board so you know exactly where you rank with the rest of the class. (I loved this and because I chose an anonymous name, no one knew who I was, but I still was able to “race.”)



And just about the time you thought you couldn’t go anymore, the weight bars came out to get those arms in for a full-body workout. However, I did survive and burned around 850 calories in the process! 

WOW! And I had fun. A lot of fun. Did I mention the part about a nightclub? The music in the class was amazing (crafted by a DJ) and made me feel less like I was working out and more like I was dancing – and best of all, I was able to throw down and no one could see me (since the lights were out!)


Best of all, you get to keep track of all your progress on your own portal. Each time you spin, your cycle records your instructor, your speed, your distance and your CALORIES BURNED! This way you can always work for improvement and schedule out your next class. 

 So are you ready to ride? 

 You should be. FLYWHEEL makes burning fat fun – and your first class is free! What a great way to get 2013 going…with me at FLYWHEEL! 


DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC’s 16 CFR Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

How NOT to Be a Clueless Chick in 2013

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Me Mondays {Review}:

This month I’m dedicated to making us all a little better — whether it’s more healthy, more beautiful or more organized, we’re aimed at creating an IMPROVED ME. For me to reach my goals, I’ve got to make a list. I’ve got ’em over the place – from long-term lists to daily post-its, putting things in lists WITH DATES remind me to stay on track and get things done. 

So I was so happy to find a new series I’m in love with that I only wish I’d found about four years ago – when I was pregnant and a new mom with “The Clueless Chick” series. 

Mom, Type A/OCD type and author Jennifer Durbin created a new line of books that’s perfectly suited for moms with busy schedules looking to be the best they can be – “ClffsNotes” style. Her first three books are all less than 100 pages and packed full of lists and helpful fundamentals to make some of life’s most stressful moments,  manageable. 

Party Planning Tips for The Clueless Chick
While we all aspire to be Martha Stewart, let’s be honest, it’s not always possible. The Clueless Chick is here to help with simple templates and ideas you need to create the best party, shower, networking event, etc. 

Baby Traveling Tips for The Clueless Chick
Any mom will tell you that first time you load up for that first trip with your baby, you feel like you are loading up your whole house in the back of your car. But after a few months, your must-haves change significantly to the real bare essentials. In this book, she outlines how to survive going to restaurants, staying in hotel rooms, etc. with kids. This book of lists is great for first-time parents to those of us with a few under our arm who might need some reminders. 

Pregnancy Tips for The Clueless Chick 
Just found out your pregnant and don’t know what to do? Don’t inundate yourself with every book ever written on the topic, start with this book to give you a little direction and feel like you understand a little something! From how to extend your existing clothing, where to find new fashionable maternity clothing, to what you really need to put on your registry, this is a great starter book that should be given to you when your test puts out a positive!


The Clueless Chick
Jennifer Durbin
Brigham Distributing
Buy It

DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC’s 16 CFR Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

Diet Review: Dr. Salerno’s Silver Cloud Diet

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Sharing Saturdays: 



As part of my IMPROVED ME series this month, I’m taking a look at a topic that many of us take on in January: diets. Each Saturday I’ll review one of the latest diet book trends and see how easy it is to follow and if you lose weight.

Our first look is at Dr. Salerno’s Silver Cloud Diet: The Sustainable Diet for the 21st Century. Written by Internationally acclaimed medical expert on aging and weight loss and James Beard Award-Winning cookbook author Linda Eckhardt, the Silver Cloud Diet t is first a quick plan to drop weight and then ultimately a lifestyle changing system. “This three-step proactive approach to nutrition is based on organic unprocessed foods, high protein, natural fat, and low-carbohydrate, low-glycemic choices, fortified with pure natural nutritional supplements targeted to strengthen your immune system, reduce inflammation, and destroy free radicals.”


Since Salerno studied under the creator of the Atkins diet, so the diet plan seems very similar to the little-to-no-carb plan that was all the rage in the late 90s. However, a majority of the book also explains how the toxins and poisoned food supply is affecting our health. Once to the plan itself, several delicious recipes are included to make your two weeks tolerable. Baseline: if you don’t like meat, eggs and nuts, this diet isn’t for you. But if you can survive the two-week detox, this plan might be a great way to jump off the way to healthier eating, living and even stop the effects of aging.

While I haven’t decided whether this plan works for my lifestyle, it is in consideration. The benefits of the diet are amazing; normalizing weight and eliminating prediabetic conditions, but the use of several supplements that makes me a little aprehensive. However, the overall benefits of regulating body function, controling hunger and stopping hunger without counting calories, but through portion control is an excellent learning tool for any healthy eating plan. 

Dr. Salerno’s Silver Cloud Diet: The Sustainable Diet for the 21st Century
Madison Lexington Books
                                

The Best of the Bowls: Taco Bueno vs. Taco Bell vs. Taco Cabana

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Food Fridays: 


Healthier eating is definitely in store for a more IMPROVED ME, but not dining out is not an option for our family. Sometimes necessity, sometimes a treat – I’ve tried to find the best choices when running through the drive-in is a must on the agenda. 

Recently, Taco Bueno and Taco Bell joined some of their competitors like Taco Cabana by adding healthier choices to their menu with steak, chicken and veggie bowls filled with ingredients like beans, rice, lettuce, cheese and other condiments. Since Mexican food is one our family favorites, we took on the challenge of finding the best of the “bowls.” 

Here’s what we found: 

TACO BUENO

Bueno Steak Bowl
Around $6-7

This bowl came in a rather large great cardboard, recycle-friendly bowl filled with flame-grilled all-white-meat chicken, rice, pico de gallo, black beans, romaine lettuce mix, and 1 ounce of Chipotle Citrus Vinaigrette. While the steak looks ample, after a few bites we didn’t have any meat to eat with the rest of our bowl. The rice was pretty good, made the whole bowl complete and we were adequately full after our last bite!


Nutritional Info: 
I couldn’t locate the specific nutritional content, but was able to calculate the bowl was around 400-425 calories. However, I’ve requested the information and hope I can update this soon!

TACO BELL

Cantina Steak Bowl
Around $5-6
While an upgrade from Taco Bell’s presentation, this bowl still seemed to have that fast-casual deliverable. And even though there weren’t ample size steak fajita meat, the small bites of meat were flavorful. The rice needed a little extra something to it, but a big dallop of guacamole make it all work. The amount of food wasn’t overwhelming though with a good-sized portion to fill you up, but not out! 
Nutritional Info:
Calories                560
Cholesterol         60mg
Carbs                   64g
Fat                       22g
Sugar                     4g
Protein                 26g


TACO CABANA

Build-Your-Own-Chicken-Bowl
Around $5

As pictured, this Taco Cabana BYOB is 925, but omit the shell and it’s only 425 calories! 

Nutritional Info:
Calories                425
Cholesterol        60mg
Carbs                    47g
Fat                         8g
Sugar                     7g
Protein                 26g


So which restaurant had the tastiest bowl? 

Our 5-personal panel (we called in a friend to help) was pretty well split between the Taco Bell bowl and the Taco Cabana bowl. To be honest, Taco Cabana is our personal family-favorite, but Taco Bell is a close second as a go-to dinner choice. One panel member loved the Taco Bell bowl flavor with the grilled corn and beans, while another member loved the Taco Cabana taste. As for fresher ingredients, Taco Cabana also won the contest. 

For the price these two also win the race with Taco Cabana being on top of this one with more choices to suit your taste. Taco Cabana also seemed to provide the most amount of food for the money and most “homemade” ingredients with salsa, pico and other condiments. 

For the calorie count, they all can make the cut at around 400 calories, but it’s all about what you put on your bowl. Taco Bell had the most calories the way it was ordered at 560, but consider what you put in your bowl before your order to try to get it down to a healthier range. Want to reduce the calories? Then consider ordering the bowl without rice or maybe get your good fats from guacamole and not sour cream. At Taco Cabana you can order your bowl with a taco shell, but it adds around 400 calories, so think how much you want that shell before ordering. Taco Bueno and Taco Cabana wins this contest for health. 

Overall – Taco Cabana wins this showdown this time! But we’d love your thoughts!

One note: Wonder why Chipotle or Freebirds wasn’t including in the challenge? After looking at their ingredient choices, price point and lack-of-drive-through, it just seemed we wouldn’t be able to compare them apples to apples! If I could choose a carnitas Chipotle bowl through drive-through, I’d be there every day!

Creating the Not New, but IMPROVED YOU in 2013

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To-Do Thursdays:

It’s quite fitting that this “To-Do Thursday,” I’m putting together a plan for a new better me. (That’s like the biggest to-do, right?)


For many people, New Year’s becomes the impetus for creating resolutions to be a “New You” and unfortunately, after about 90 days, are miserably forgotten, thrown aside, etc.  

However, this year I’ve decided that I won’t set myself up failure to be a “new me,” but instead to be a better me. And maybe my little adventure will entertain, educate or maybe even help you, too. 

So over the next month, I’m planning to explore all things in the name of being a better me…


  • the newest diet plan? I’m trying it (or at least reading it)
  • the healthy recipe plan? I’m making it (I hope I can taste it if it’s edible)
  • the latest skin care product or procedure? I’m putting it on (if I can afford it) 
  • the trendiest fitness craze? I’m there! (Spandex here we go!)
Whether you are looking for real ideas or something just to make you laugh, stay tuned for “Better Me 2013!” 

What plans do you have for 2013? 

NYE 2013: What’s Your Resolution?

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Me Mondays:

It’s that magical end of the holiday season day where I decide to be better at…, do better at…and of course, eat better to lose…

Are you resolving this year to make any changes? You’re in good company; so are a lot of other people as you can see below. 

However, this year it’s going to be easier to be better because we’re gonna do it together. Yep – the whole reason I created this baby was to help me be better and share my experiences with others so they could be better – hence the name MAMACHALLENGE! 

So be ready this January to start the challenge of being the best we can be in 2013! I have lots of surprises in store for us! However, ff course, like any good southern girl…I’m going to think about that tomorrow! Until then, take a look at the top resolutions and how can start to create your plan for betterness tomorrow as well! 

Until then, HAPPY NEW YEAR’S!

Thanks to CalorieCount.com for this greeat graphic.



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