2016 Weight Control with Slim Fast

Did anybody out there overeat this holiday?

I did and I enjoyed every bite.  But now after all the festivities are winding down and 2016 is ready to roll in, I'm thinking about my nutrition and staying fit over the winter season.

Every winter I gain a few extra pounds and every summer I feel guilty because

I didn't use good self control over the cold months.

I love my snacks and sometimes I eat junk instead of healthy 

and honestly sometimes I eat simply because I'm bored.

I can't be the only person who does this?

Fortunately for me SlimFast offers a wonderful variety of shakes, 

100 calorie snacks, bars and smoothies.

Now awesome tasting SlimFast Advanced Nutrition now has up to 20g of protein!

Tweet #ItsYourThing

Hopefully the photo above got your attention.

Trust me, it tastes as good as it looks.  Sweet, crunchy, chocolaty!  Truly, it's delicious.

(I received these products complimentary for testing purposes however the opinions stated here are solely my own.)

These little crispy cinnamon bun swirl snack packs are awesome.  I enjoy them with a morning

cup of coffee instead of something heavily sweet.

My SlimFast shakes come in a variety of flavors so I don't get bored drinking the same thing all the time.  I can choose from Creamy Chocolate, Caramel Latte, Vanilla Cream, Strawberries & Cream.

I like to replace my dinner meal with my choice of shake which is delicious.  

There's no gritty taste that you get with some shakes on the market and I feel satisfied after eating.

Gotta have my chips.  I love potato chips and I have the thighs to prove it.

I had not tried the SlimFast snack brand prior to this complimentary pack.  

They are truly delicious.  Don't take my word for it, try them for yourself.

The last sample I have is this decadent Dark Chocolate Sea Salt bar.

Oh my Gosh!   Seriously this is good.

Enjoy 

Angel

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

Would you be interested in a decadent chocolate pudding that you can eat every day and it's good for you?  A rich and delicious chocolate pudding that will increase your energy and can help you lose weight?  Do I have your attention yet?

This is not your everyday chocolate pudding.  It's rich and creamy and totally satisfying.  
It keeps you feeling full long after you eaten every delectable, creamy, chocolate bite. 

I almost forgot... it's super easy to make.

(topped with plain Greek Yogurt and blueberries)

(topped with blueberries)

Chia seeds are a Nutrient-Dense Superfood - rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, protein, antioxidants and essential vitamins A, B, D and E, also calcium, magnesium, potassium, manganese and iron.  Chia seeds help sustain your energy levels, the rich fiber content helps control your weight by making your stomach feel fuller, longer.   This omega powerhouse is gluten-free, vegan, nut-free, raw, low-carb and paleo-friendly.


      2 Servings

• 1 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/4 chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 2 tbsp raw cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp vanilla if desired

Toppings:  blueberries, strawberries, yogurt, walnuts, pecans, fresh coconut, chocolate shavings, and anything else you can imagine.  

Mix all the ingredients together.  I use raw honey because I love the sweetness it adds and it's full of health benefits too.  Once everything is mixed, cover and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight. These mighty little chia seeds absorb up to 12x their weight so you may want to add a little more almond milk depending on the thickness you prefer.  

Awesome Smoothie Recipes

I wanted to share some Smoothie Recipes that I've found and the taste is almost to good to be good for you.  My first kale smoothie was undrinkable.  

Let's face it, if you can't stand to taste it you're probably not going to drink it, lol.

Hemp Hearts, Blueberries, Chia Seeds, and Spinach are becoming my favorite ingredients.

Recipes

Sleepy Seeds Smoothie helps facilitate sleep naturally by reducing muscle tension and promoting system relaxation. 

Ingredients

• 1 banana, sliced
• 1⁄4 cup blueberries
• 1⁄4 cup raspberries
• 2 cups spinach
• 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds
• 1 tbsp sunflower seeds

Instructions

Place ingredients into a blender, fill to the max water line, and blend until a smooth consistency is achieved.

Skinny Blast Smoothie

The Skinny Blast Smoothie naturally promotes weight loss and increases your sense of well being. \

Ingredients

• 1 banana, sliced
• 1 carrot
• 1 orange, peeled
• 2 cups spinach
• 1 tbsp hemp seeds
• 1⁄8 pumpkin seeds

Instructions

Place ingredients into a blender, fill to the max water line, and blend until a smooth consistency is achieved. 

Fountain Of Youth Smoothie

The Fountain Of Youth Smoothie will help you reenergize and reinvigorate, thus providing a more youthful attitude and appearance. 

Ingredients

• 1 medium nectarine, pitted
• ½ avocado, pitted and peeled
• ½ cup blueberries
• 2 cups kale
• 10 walnut halves

Instructions

Place ingredients into a blender, fill to the max water line, and blend until a smooth consistency is achieved. 

Jolly Green Smoothie

The Jolly Green Smoothie is named for the jovial green giant mascot of the Green Giant vegetable company. 

Ingredients

• ½ banana
• ½ orange, peeled and seeded
• 2 cups spinach
• ¼ cup raspberries
• ¼ cup strawberries
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 tbsp honey
• ½ cup ice

Instructions

Place ingredients into a blender and blend until a smooth consistency is achieved. 
Add a few Chia seeds to the top and enjoy.

Original recipes by Elle Kenwood and they are super awesome!

2014 Here I Come!

Wow, it's almost 2014.  I don't know where the year has gone.  Saying "Time flies" is an understatement of mass proportion.

But, here we are on the brink of another year.   Time to start thinking of New Years resolutions.  There are so many things I want to accomplish in 2014.

So let's see what I've got so far.
*  I want to lose 20 pounds.  ( who doesn't )  I've gained weight this past year and I hate how it makes me feel about myself.  My cheeks are pudgy and my spare tire at my waistline has gained a spare tire of its own.  I really don't feel good about my appearance right now.  The last few months my solution has been to buy bigger cloths, not really the best option for good health.

*  I want to get my life back to some sort of "normal" order for myself.  I'm normally very organized and in control of my life.  Remember I said normally.  My life has turned in to a chaotic roller coaster recently and I'm not enjoying the ride.  I haven't really defined how to accomplish this yet but it's a goal.  One of the biggest issues for me is that I have no control over my time.  It seems as if everyone always needs me to do something and I'm going to have to learn how to use the word "No".

*  I want to find another job that better fits my home and family needs at this time.  I don't want to change careers, I just need a different job.  I'd love to find something closer to home but there's not many facilities near where I live.  My normal drive is an hour to and from work which I hope to avoid that long of a commute.

*  The biggest thing is that I've lost my Peace and I have to get it back.  I don't know if that makes sense to anyone except me but it's always been a big part of who I am.  It's hard to find Peace when your mind is in constant commotion.  "Be Still" has taken on a whole new meaning to me recently.

*  I want to give my craft room a little makeover. It was my place for some "Me Time" that I need again.  It isn't just a craft room, it's my do everything room.  I like having my little spot to be alone and think and blog or whatever.  If you live with a lot of family members I know you will understand this desire.

*  I want to take another cruise to the Bahamas.   Our last cruise was over 2 years ago and I'm so ready for another one.  I love being on the ocean.  I put this on my list because if it's not on the list I'll forget about it until I'm to drained to care then it will be to late to plan and prepare for it. I am pretty good with list which is something I've done my entire life and normally its keeps things fresh in my mind for planning.

*  Then there's my blog.  I want to add some things to it but I haven't worked out all the details as yet.  Those creative juices are still bubbling.  It's been an awesome first year and I've learned a lot from so many wonderful bloggy friends.  Now I think it's time for me to expand my horizons a little.  My plan so far is to kick off with my Birthday/Blogiversary Giveaway which will end on January 30th and then in February add new things to share with my wonderful readers.

If any of you have any great ideas that you'd like to share please leave me a comment?  Is there something that interest you that you'd like to see me add to my blog?  Let me know what you think.

Anyway, this is my list so far.  I've got a lot of planning and work to do in the coming weeks but I think it will all be worth my efforts.  Again, if you have any advice or ideas that you'd like to share please do.  I'd love to hear your feedback.

Look out 2014, here comes Angel!