Product Review: Hint Water
I’ve tried the crystal light or other packets (even with caffeine in them!)
I’ve put a lemon in them.
And my favorite….I pop candy/gum in my mouth and then I can drink the water. It’s the perfect hint of flavor for water without it being overbearing like those packets can be.
It’s the funniest thing though. This hint water tastes just like that hint of flavor I get when I pop that candy or gum in my mouth. It’s perfect. Also I actually drank it all within a few minutes and didn’t even realize it! To top it off, it’s 0 calories!!
You may not like this if you like the strong flavors of other flavored water or of those packets. It’s definitely a very light flavor. I tried the mango-grapefruit flavor and it was yummy. Just enough to make me drink water without turning my nose up. Click to find it at your favorite store. I still can’t find it around me but the site states that they are available nationally at all Starbucks and Whole Foods. Check it out! Have you tried this water? What do you think about it?
Get a free Weight loss Buddy Online!
We all struggle with our weights from time to time and we also try to find new diet plans that may work. The thing that may not work is sticking to it. I don’t know about you, but I always need a buddy in order to eat well. I’m horrible when it comes to food. I can easily be swayed by someone to eat something on my “do not eat” list while I’m on a diet. Well I like to call it a restriction. 
Enter Weight Loss Buddy. You can get a profile page, a diet planning, team page (if you are going to do it with other chicas) and you can 3D chat all for free! You can find a buddy by age, pounds to lose, keyword, zip code (in case you want a buddy in your area) interests picture and a lot more. So you definitely have the opportunity to take this offline and even go workout with your weight loss buddy. Sounds great! And it’s all free!
If you are trying to get into that bathing suit or lose those last five ten or fifteen pounds by a certain date, wedding, trip, etc…this is a good idea for you!
You can have someone to share workout tips, recipes and even join a fitness class! It’s great to do it with someone else. Has anyone tried this? What do you think of this great idea?
Product Review: Ice Cube Diet
This product was sent to Mami’s Time Out for review by SSPR for review. Mami’s Time Out was in no way compensated for its review. You can always count on an honest review from Mami’s Time Out.
As summer approaches, I’m sure we are all in panic mode trying to lose those last few pounds in order to look good in our swimsuits and summer dresses. When I at first heard of this product, the Ice Cube Diet, I was a bit skeptical. I mean you hear of all these crazy diet plans and this really sounded like one of them. But I did agree to a product review. I mean I’m going to be in Miami soon so I want to make sure I look my best!
So I received the product in the mail and they are little green ice cubes in an ice cube tray. You’re supposed to put it in water and it just so happens I’ve been drinking a lot of water lately and taking a sports bottle with me everywhere. (It really helps to clear your skin and it’s good for you!) So I did take one cube and put it in my water.
One con I noticed with the packaging was that it was hard to get that little sucker out! I had to use a dinner knife (I’m clumsy so if I would have used a deeper knife who knows what would have happened!) and I really had to fight to pop the cube out. It’s not as big as your normal ice cubes maybe a bit smaller. So just keep that in mind when you are sitting there fighting with the cube! At least you only have to use one per day!
The great part about this product is that is tasteless. It did look a little gross in my water and hubby cringed when I drank it but there was no bitterness or anything. This product contains hoodia which I have used before to control my appetite. So if this is your problem it does help with portion control!
Ice Cube Diet helps you stop craving, helps you eat less (the water as well keeps you full) and as far as I was concerned, there were no side effects.
Just a side note here, if you do have the munchies and that’s the major issue you are having in order to lose weight, one of my friends also put me on to almonds. I’m a muncher when I study and the almonds have saved me. They are good for you and you can pop like 20 in your mouth for like 100 calories. Also grapes are good for munchers. And I found chocolate covered pretzel 100 calorie packs that are too die for! I can’t give up chocolate! This along with the ice cube a day can really help you lose those extra 10 pounds we are all trying to get rid of!
To buy your own, select stores in NJ NY and CT have them for sale. You can order online a 40 day supply for $64.95. Have you tried this product? Interested in trying out the product? Sound off in the comments!
Celebrity Mom’s and Weight Loss
I’ve been noticing in the celebrity magazines that they have new celebrity moms on the covers telling you how they lost all their baby weight in days. Occasionally I do go off on a rant when I something is really bothering me. Like when I talked about the insane amount of child support some rappers are paying. This topic has really been bothering me for a while and I’ve about had enough. First of all there is no way that could happen without some surgical help. Most doctors won’t even let a new mom exercise until they are at least 6 weeks post partum. Bad enough that we feel pressured by a magazine’s perception of beauty with all the airbrushing and Photoshop that is currently being done. But to also give new moms that new pressure? It’s horribly unfair. New moms are already hormonal from the changes happening to their bodies post partum. Besides dealing with a newborn, new moms now have to deal with how fast they can bounce back. I just find that insanely wrong.
The cover with Kim Kardashian’s sister Kourtney was one thing but now one of those weekly mags has Kendra on the cover with a bikini on holding her baby. What message are we portraying here? Don’t even bother bonding with your baby you have to get to the gym stat in order to get that body back. Seriously people? We women are already obsessed with weight and food and trying out all these diets and tricks that these magazines swear help these new moms lose their baby weight. And here I am happy that I’ve made my pre-baby weight even though my baby is three years old this month and not three months old. I don’t know we can be so pressured to look great as women but no one cares what dad looks like. What’s up with that? He may have baby weight to lose as well. Of course if my job was to look cute all the time and I had all the time in the world to hit the gym, go to the spa and bond with my baby it would be so much easier. But for the working mom who always has something to do? Even if you’re reading this and you’re a stay at home mom in my book you’re still a working mom because that’s hard work! But I guess we’re also at fault too. I mean they are going to continue to print these covers if we continue to buy them right?
Some Fitness Myths Revealed!
I’m sure more than some of us are hitting the gym hard this month trying to get our curvy figures just right for the cute spring and summer clothes that is just right around the corner! Well here is Jenny Evans from Power House Performance Coaching sharing some of the fitness myths.
1. LONGER WORKOUTS AT A LOWER INTENSITY BURN MORE FAT.
Short and intense interval training sessions can improve whole body fat oxidation by 36% and may offer greater benefits than lengthy bouts of steady-state exercise. Interval training allows you to get more work done in the same amount of time because you can work at greater intensity levels than if you were doing steady state training. Your overall production (calories burned) will be greater despite the frequent breaks because you are able to work at a higher intensity.
Interval training also improves your level of fitness very quickly, typically in a matter of just a few weeks, and this improvement in fitness allows you to perform more work and burn more calories during an exercise session.
2. I SHOULD WORKOUT ON AN EMPTY STOMACH SO MY BODY WILL BURN FAT.
You must put glucose (food) in the system before you exercise. If you are exercising with no glucose in the system, it sends your body into Emergency Mode. Emergency Mode = hold on to body fat for as long as possible because it is valuable energy and will be necessary to survive. Instead of fat, your body will break down muscle tissue and use that as energy. It does this for two major reasons:
1) Muscle is metabolically active tissue. For this reason it’s viewed as costly when there is not enough energy coming in. Your body is “doing you a favor” by getting rid of really needy, high maintenance cells. Emergency Mode is all about energy conservation: Get rid of muscle, hold on to fat.
2) Losing muscle mass slows down your metabolism, which conserves energy. This is your body’s goal when you are in Emergency Mode.
If you are working out – or even physically active – and there is no glucose in the system, your primary fuel source is muscle, not fat. Get your body out of Emergency Mode by making sure to keep adequate glucose in the system by eating several small meals and snacks throughout the day.
3. IF I DON’T HAVE AT LEAST 30 MINUTES TO EXERCISE I SHOULD JUST SKIP IT BECAUSE I WON’T GET ANY BENEFIT.
Science has shown that you do not have to do long, continuous workouts to get benefit. Studies have taken two groups of exercisers and divided them in to ’30 minutes of continuous exercise done in one session’ and ’30 minutes done in 3 bouts of 10 minutes each, spread throughout the day’. Guess which group got more benefit? The second group that spread out their three 10 minutes sessions reaped more benefit, and here’s why: Every time you exercise, your metabolism increases. When you finish exercising, it takes a while for your metabolism to slow back down. This means free extra calories being burned! I like to think of this as the “Afterburner Effect”. The group that did 30 consecutive minutes got only one “afterburner effect”, whereas the second group got three!
Another benefit to splitting up your workouts is that it may be more do-able from a time management perspective. Finding a big block of time can be very challenging, but finding 10 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes mid-day and 10 minutes in the evening definitely has possibilities. Instead of bagging a workout because you don’t have 45 minutes or an hour, see how much you can accumulate throughout the day or week.
4. IF I STOP EXERCISING, ALL MY MUSCLE WILL TURN TO FAT.
Muscle cannot turn into fat. Molecularly the two are as different as oil and water. As you begin to exercise your muscle fibers hypertrophy (grow), causing your metabolism to increase. This increase in energy expenditure creates an energy deficit, and so your body uses stored energy from the fat cells causing them to shrink in size. When you stop exercising the muscle fibers atrophy (shrink), causing your metabolism to slow. This decrease in physical activity and energy expenditure coupled with eating the way you did when you were working out creates an energy surplus, which is stored in the fat cells and they grow larger. It is just a matter of taking up space, not turning into something else.
5. WORKING MY ABS ALL THE TIME WILL GET ME A SIX-PACK STOMACH.
Physical activity – including resistance training – will help reduce body fat, but not specifically or exclusively in the isolated muscle group being worked. Current theory shows that a reduction in calorie intake coupled with exercise results in fat reduction throughout the entire body, not in localized spots. You cannot “spot reduce” fat on specific areas of the body. Body fat decreases in an all over body sense – your body genetically decides where the fat goes to or comes from first and unfortunately you can’t control it. Reducing body fat is best accomplished through a combination of cardiovascular activity, resistance training, and a healthy diet.
6. I’M TOO OLD TO HAVE A FIRM STOMACH OR TONED LEGS.
Although studies indicate you may lose muscle mass as you become older, you can slow or even reverse the process through exercise. There is no reason why you cannot improve the strength, flexibility, and overall appearance of your body no matter how old you are. The old adage “Use it or lose it” applies here. Most people lose muscle mass because they stop exercising, not because they are old. They become sedentary. Depending on your present level of fitness, you can add muscle mass to some degree or another. You’re never too old to receive the health benefits of exercise and to look great!
Jenny Evans is founder of PowerHouse Performance Coaching and the creator of PowerHouse Hit the Deck™, an innovate product that combats the Cortisol Crisis™, boosts your threshold for stress, improves your overall levels of energy and productivity, increases the quality of your sleep, and elevates your level of fitness. A sought after international speaker, her insightful and practical principles leave her audiences ready to take action! As an Executive Performance Coach & Human Catalyst, Jenny trains thousands of national and international corporate executives on the roles that stress, performance psychology, nutrition and exercise physiology play in managing their productivity both personally and professionally. She specializes in guiding and inspiring both large and small groups in the process of personal and professional transformation through keynotes and half day training sessions. She is also contributing author of the book The Corporate Athlete Advantage: The Science of Deepening Engagement. For the past fifteen years Jenny has been involved in educating and training the public on overall health and performance through radio, television, group, and personal instruction. In her spare time she competes in duathlons, does flying trapeze and is an aerial arts performer and coach.
Giveaway: Pulse Pilates DVD
Pulse Yoga is a combination of yoga flow, Pilates, core fusion and weight training, created to be an easy, quick, and fun way to incorporate multiple fitness disciplines into your everyday workout.
Pulse Yoga was created by Argie Tang and Prisca Boris, both accomplished yoga practitioners. It is available four different DVDs, each offering a different twist on traditional yoga workouts. Pulse Yoga I: Basic, Pulse Yoga II: Balance & Tone, Pulse Yoga III: Stamina & Strength, and Pulse Yoga Express. Each DVD features challenging and fun workouts ranging from 1 hour to 30 minutes in length.
What Makes Pulse Yoga Different?
“Pulse Yoga is a new concept that adds the elements of toning and strengthening the muscles, targeting specific trouble spots, and defining the arms and glutes,” says Argie, “I wanted to create one, great routine that is light and fun.” Pulse Yoga is Argie’s new way of looking at postures, and adding new dimension to yoga for fitness.
“Through the four different DVDs, which are all on the same skill level and difficulty, you can choose to mix and match your routines, depending on which workouts you like best,” says Argie, “it is perfect for people who want to build bone density, create firm, sculpted arms, toned buttocks, and a flat stomach without having to go to the gym.”
Pulse Yoga DVDs are available in I (Basic), II (Strength & Stamina), III (Balance & Tone), and Express Versions, for $14.99 each. For more information, please visit www.pulseyoga.com
Want one? One lucky Mami’s Time Out reader can win a Pulse Yoga Express DVD. To enter, you can:
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Only one entry per person. This contest is only available in the United States. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. This contest will run from September 15-September 22, 2009. Winners have two days to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen.Suerte chicas, as always!
Time to shape up for the hot summer days…
July 1, 2009 by Jai
Filed under Fitness, MISC Cositas
The summer is officially here and we are looking to be “bikini ready” pronto. So, I’ve been going to the gym- doing a little kickboxing and a toning class with weights. However, making time to get fit is a mission in itself. But, I’m pushing myself to workout at least twice a week and try different classes while I’m at it. The other day I took a hip hop class, and let me tell you that I completely underestimated the power of dancing! I walked out of that class drenched…yet feeling absolutely fabulosa! Tell me, how are you preparing for the sunny, hot summer days. Are you working out, taking your children to the park, or dancing salsa with the hubby?I think this week, I’ll give Zumba a try. What works for you? Anyone want to try Zumba?
Daisy Fuentes Launches Pilates for Wii
With budgets stretched thin, moms everywhere are turning to ‘exergames’ — fun ways to get fit at home. SEGA announced Daisy Fuentes Pilates
for the Wii offering a personalized, private Pilates class, right in your living room.
You get customizable workouts led by Daisy, taking advantage of the Wii and the Balance Board to provide real-time feedback, ensuring that you are mastering the fundamentals before moving to the next level. This is a big deal to me because with those at home DVD’s I’m never sure if I’m doing it correctly.
Some features unique to the title are:
· First Pilates experience designed for the Wii and the Wii Balance Board
· Provides real-time feedback to improve players positioning and moves
· Players can choose to play in Spanish or English We all know that Daisy is looking more and more beautiful so if this is her secret to being ageless I want to try it out! I am always on the lookout for exercises to do at home. I really need to get myself a Wii and Wii fit. Seems like I’m missing out on a lot! The game will be released August 30, 2009 for $27.99 and you can preorder it on Amazon
Bellydance and get toned all over
I’m always on the lookout for fun ways to work out. My friends and I have been walking which is nice. You kind of chat away and catch up with each other and next thing you know you’ve walked three miles in one hour. It’s great! I’ve also talked about Zumba a Latin dance inspired workout that looks like a fun time!
Inspired to be fit and sexy and bellydance like Shakira (I like to call her Shaki) I want to shimmy away my belly in a fun way. I checked out Bellydance Fitness for Beginners – Arms, Abs, Hips, Buns & Thighs
The only thing I didn’t like about this DVD is that even though it says it’s for beginners they really don’t take the time to show you the different moves. It’s sink or swim. But for a more intermediate belly dancer that knows a little something this could be ideal. And on sale for less than $10 you really can’t beat that!
I’m definitely going to check out some more Bellydancing DVD’s. I mean I’m sure I’m not the only one who wants to work it like Shaki. Even Beyonce loves Shaki!
Great Smoothie Recipes
Since I have been committing myself to better eating choices in the 4 weeks to a Fab You, I have been thinking about easy recipes for healthy breakfasts. Since the weather is getting warmer, a smoothie for breakfast sounds great! I get bored quickly and was inspired by this month’s Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. They had 10 smoothie recipes. I did a bit of online searching and found a web site that boasts being the #1 Smoothie Recipe site. Smoothie Web is an amazing source where you can pick recipes by categories like diet, healthy, fruit, breakfast and much more. You can even find the most popular smoothie recipes.
The recipes shown on BHG’s magazine is great and easy to prepare. Which means less ingredients…less $$$. The one that reminded me of the Caribbean is:
6oz Plain Yogurt (for one serving)
Unsweetened Coconut Milk
Lime Juice
Fresh Mint
The only thing is that they don’t mention how much of each to use. I guess a bit and a dash of that until you get it right? But if that doesn’t say summer I don’t know what does! I’m going to get good use out of that blender this spring and summer! Please share your favorite smoothies in the comments. I would love to add to my list. Imagine if we can compile like 40 different kinds of smoothies? That would be amazingly delicious! 
If you are interested in the recipe of the smoothie pictured (which is a Lemon Berry smoothie…yum!) you can check it out here.
Subscribe to Better Homes and Gardens (1-year)
