Suja Juice Cleanse Round 2!

If you read my last blog post about my first experience with juice cleansing, you knew this would be coming! (If you didn't read it, catch it HERE.) I was so happy with the changes in my appetite after my first 3-day Suja Juice cleanse back in June, that I just had to have another round. I timed it perfectly for the week before our family vacation to Cabo. I figured I'd look a little better in the bikinis I'd be sporting nearly all day and perhaps I would binge a bit less than I normally do at all-inclusive resorts. The results are in!

First off, I'll address the question everyone asks me first when I tell them I just finished a cleanse, "How much weight did you lose?" I had lost about 5 pounds on the initial cleanse, and when I started this one I had gained back maybe a pound or so. I ended this second cleanse 2 pounds below where I ended the last one, so I lost about 3 total this time. For me it isn't all about the weight loss though, my cravings that had been wiped out by my first cleanse were starting to rear their ugly heads again, so it was time to put them to rest! Did it work? Mostly!

Again, I left for Cabo a mere 3 days after finishing this second cleanse, and we stayed at an all-inclusive resort, so healthy eating wasn't really in the cards. But, I know for a fact I made much better choices than I would have had I not cleansed right before! I think I only had 4 margaritas the entire week, and instead opted for wine and other less sugary drinks when the bartenders were throwing drinks at me. I ate salads for lunch whenever I could get my hands on one (believe it or not it wasn't easy, room service became my only lunch option!) I only gave in to the late night room service dessert binge once, and it was mostly because my son deserved the experience (I would normally do that every night when it's free!) All in all I would say the cleanse definitely set me up for better eating habits on vacation and beyond. Now that I'm home, it's back to greek yogurt, salads, protein and veggies on the daily menu...oh and a Suja Juice here and there for a snack of course! And I'm loving it! I missed eating healthy!

As for the experience of the cleanse itself, I'd have to say it was a bit tougher for me this time around. Note to self (and other women), do not allow your cleanse to overlap with PMS. I didn't do a very good job of eating clean leading into the cleanse like I did last time. I had a piece of chocolate or 2 the day before and my husband offered up a glass of wine that I couldn't refuse that same night. I had a headache from hell for the last 2 days of the cleanse, I finally had to give in and take Advil which I really didn't want to do! But it helped! Next time I'm definitely doing a better job of clean eating for a couple of days prior as it really seemed to help the first time around. I had a slight headache that time, but it was brief and manageable. Other than the headache all went well and once again I didn't cheat at all during the 3 days of the cleanse. My husband survived without any issues at all...and he had to work every day, he cleanses like a champ! So are we going to do it yet again? Of course! I think we'll be quarterly cleansers for life, we're hooked.

My New Obsession...Mamma Chia!

Those of you who know me well know that I became obsessed with chia seeds about a year ago, right after giving birth to my baby girl. I had heard about them on Dr. Oz and immediately went online and bought some. These tiny little seeds are not only filling and easy to consume, but they are high in Omega-3 fatty acids and fiber, a great source of antioxidants & minerals, gluten-free AND they can help regulate cholesterol and blood sugar! The Ancient Mayans and Aztecs used chia seeds for their healing power and for energy, many ancient warriors would sustain on chia seeds alone for 24 hours or more. In today's society, many notable athletes and long-distance runners swear by chia seeds for stamina and health benefits. I had been using them in greek yogurt, in various beverages, mixed with oatmeal, you name it. Right off the bat I was able to drop some of my stubborn baby weight because the chia seeds made me feel SO full, and I also noticed more energy. I've stuck with chia seeds every since! Imagine my delight when I saw a beverage product at my local grocery store that had chia seeds in it! It was called Mamma Chia, and I had to have it! I bought a couple and drank one right away when I got home and was blown away, it was SO good! And packed with so many health benefits!

Mamma Chia Vitality Beverage is available in 9 delectable flavors: Blackberry Hibiscus, Cherry Lime, Cranberry Lemonade, Raspberry Passion, Pomegranate Mint, Coconut Mango, Kiwi Lime, Guava Mamma and Grapefruit Ginger. I still think the first flavor I tried, Coconut Mango, is one of my favorites. They are all so yummy though! It's hard to believe that this fun and great tasting drink will provide you with 2500mg of Omega-3, 4g of complete protein, 95mg of calcium, as well as fiber and antioxidants! As added benefits, Mamma Chia Vitality Beverages also provide you with natural vitality and are organic, non-GMO, gluten-free and vegan! I've been using them as meal replacements in the morning, as a mid-day pick-me-up, or even before meals out at restaurants so I won't eat as much!

Now for the fun part! I want to give away some Mamma Chia Vitality Beverages!! As they need to stay refrigerated, I'll be sending the winners a coupon good for a free Mamma Chia Vitality Beverage of their choosing (please be sure they are available near you before entering at http://www.mammachia.com/find-us!) This is a 2 part contest which will require a blog comment as well as a tweet.

• FIRST, please comment on this blog letting me know your level of familiarity with Mamma Chia. Have you heard of their products, have you tried them, thoughts, etc. Whatever you'd like to share. PLEASE include your Twitter handle as well so I can match you up with your tweet! 
• NEXT, please tweet the following or similar "Thanks @Jendub77 for introducing me to #MammaChia Vitality Beverages! I hope I win one! @MammaChia1 #chiaseeds #chia http://bit.ly/134eOkR".  You can change the text, but please include the 2 Twitter handles and the link for sure. That's it! You have until July 7, 2013 to enter!
• You must complete BOTH steps to win! Good luck!

Stay tuned for another blog post about Mamma Chia's newest product, Chia Squeeze Vitality Snack!

Note: After falling in love with Mamma Chia from buying the Vitality Beverages on my own, I was lucky enough to receive a nice set of their products to sample so I could try them all. I received the complimentary products in exchange for writing a blog review, however all opinions of the product are my own.

The Fast Metabolism Diet

I recently received a free copy of The Fast Metabolism Diet book by Haylie Pomroy from SheSpeaks to review. I must say, as soon as I started reading the book I was excited to try the diet and see what results I would get from it. Many of the author's clients have lost upwards of 20 pounds on the 28 day diet by keeping their metabolism guessing. The diet is broken down into 3 basic phases that are alternated every few days:

Phase 1 - Lots of carbs and fruit
Phase 2 - Lots of proteins and veggies
Phase 3 - All of the above plus healthy fats and oils


Pomroy claims that in addition to seeing pounds fall off, you will see your cholesterol drop, blood sugar stabilize, energy increase, sleep improve and stress melt away. That all sounds great to me! Now for the tricky part, sticking to a diet!

Phase 1 includes high-glycemic, moderate-protein, low-fat foods such as brown rice, oatmeal, fruits, turkey, lentils and more. Easy enough. Phase 2 includes high-protein, high-vegetable, low-carb and low-fat foods such as broccoli, leafy greens, lean beef, low-fat fish and kale but prohibits fruit and grains. Phase 3 has an emphasis on high healthy-fat, moderate-carb & protein, low-glycemic foods such as avocado, nuts & seeds, olive oil, hummus, salmon, berries, beans and my fave, lobster!

Now, I must say, the food lists aren't so bad. And each phase is only a couple of days, so it's all very doable. My problem? Giving up my vices! The "rules" of the diet strictly prohibit not only my beloved wine and coffee (caffeine in general), but also wheat, corn, dairy, soy, refined sugar, dried fruit, fruit juices, artificial sweeteners and fat-free "diet foods". I can live without most of those, but not my wine and coffee!

So, I may just have to add my own little tweak to this diet to allow for the occasional glass of wine. I'll be setting out on the venture soon and will keep you all updated on how it goes! Has anyone else tried this diet yet? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Influenster Holiday VoxBox 2012

Here is the unboxing video of my Influenster Holiday VoxBox, Christmas came early! 

Reviews to follow soon as I try out all of the products!