DNA test

I’m approaching 30, and my body is definitely feeling it. When I was a teenager, my mom would always tell me, “lose weight now, because it gets harder the older you get.” Ugh, I hate it when she’s right. 😉 Losing weight, getting fit, and finding the right foods to eat has been difficult, ever since I turned 25. My metabolism slowed down , and I felt that my genes were also a contributing factor.

Disclosure: I received a free Home DNA Healthy Weight™ kit + free lab fee in the hopes I’d mention it on my blog. In partnership with Lipton Publicity. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

To find out if my genes were causing any issues, I decided to take a healthy weight at-home genetic DNA test called The Home DNA Healthy Weight™ (created by The DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC) Company). This test identifies nutrition and exercise strategies uniquely tailored to each individual based on their genetic makeup.

You learn about:

Your capacity to lose weight.
Your protein, fat, and carbohydrate utilization
The food and nutrients your body needs.
Cardio exercise and strength training for your body.
You even get a personalized meal plan based on your results.

The Home DNA Healthy Weight™ kit is extremely easy to use. They provide you with 4 swabs (essentially large Q-Tips), and all you do is swab the inside of your cheek (with all 4), and send them back in the mail! It took me about 2 minutes to complete this. There is a lab fee when you check out (all of this can be done online). You’ll receive your results (also online) about 6 weeks later!

Luckily, Home DNA is offering my readers a $50 discount on their own kit, which brings the price of the kit down to only $69!! That’s an AMAZING price, especially for all the information you get. Get your discount here: Home DNA discount.

The Healthy Weight fitness DNA test can help save a lot of time and money as you eliminate diets, supplements and workouts that are not optimal for you as an individual, weight management is not ‘one size fits all’ after all.

My results were really cool! I learned the my ability to lose weight is “below average” and my genes are “unfavorable,” so that wasn’t so cool. 😉 Honestly though, that made me feel better, knowing my lack of weight loss wasn’t entirely my fault. It taught me about how my body absorbs particular nutrients, what foods are best for me to eat (I’m allowed to eat carbs, woohoo!), and how I need to exercise to lose weight. It provided me with a meal plan, as well! I tried it out for the first week, and felt great. I’m the type of person who needs things laid out like this. It’s so much easier!

As you can see, much of my genes are unfavorable and below average, yay me!…

Here’s an example of a portion of the meal plan tailored specifically to me:

I highly recommend getting this genetic test done and finding out how to eat and exercise based on your specific body and genes! Get your own kit for $50 off using code HW50 or going directly to this link.

Follow Home DNA on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Have you done DNA testing for your genes (or anything)?
What would you like to get out of a DNA Healthy Weight test?

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Mars Wisdom Panel 3.0. As always, I only share products or events I feel my readers would enjoy.

It’s simple: dogs are family. From the moment your pup is placed in your arms, he is your baby. Whether he’s a puppy, an adult, or a senior, he is your baby. Your kids recognize your dog as their brother. He sleeps in your bed, you take him on trips, and you love him unconditionally. That’s exactly how I am with my poodle puppy, Archie.

Archie, 8 months

We do genetic testing on our human babies to ensure they are as healthy as possible. But what about our fur babies? We want them to be as healthy as possible, too! Well, we now have that chance. Mars Veterinary, the industry leader in canine genetic testing, is launching Wisdom Panel 3.0; the next evolution of the canine DNA test. Wisdom Panel 3.0 also features the potentially life-saving Multi-Drug Resistance 1 (MDR1) genetic mutation screening.

Why is it important to understand the genetic makeup of my dog?

There are a vast amount of different breeds, and until now, we’ve been distinguishing the breeds by visualization. For example, I look at my dog Archie (pictured above). I was told he is an apricot toy poodle and would grow to be 5 or 6 lbs. He looks like a poodle, but only his ears are apricot, and he is full-grown at 10.6 lbs. I buy him food specifically for poodles, I get him groomed like a poodle, my vet has me pay more attention to health issues that poodles can develop, and so on. I have no way of knowing if he is actually a purebred poodle. Sure, some purebreds have papers, but I rescued Archie. Just like other rescue parents, I have no idea where Archie really came from. With a DNA test like the Wisdom Panel 3.0, I am able to find out his genetic makeup, allowing me to tailor his care to what he truly needs.

This is Troy, Archie’s best friend. It’s hard to tell which breed he is just by looking at him, right?

What about Archie’s other friend, Harvey? It’s a little easier to tell Harvey’s breed, but his parents still aren’t 100 percent sure.

How does Wisdom Panel 3.0 work?

The Wisdom Panel 3.0 begins when you use the cheek swabs to collect DNA from your pup’s cheek. The sample is sent to a lab and scanned into a database. Afterward, according to Wisdom Panel,

“The swabs then undergo processing to extract the DNA from your dog’s cells which are then examined for the 321 markers used in the test. The results of these markers are sent to a computer that evaluates them using a proprietary algorithm designed to consider all of the possible pedigree trees in the last three generations” (source).

Within 2-3 weeks, the results will show which breeds make up your dog’s genetic history! For more information on how it works, visit their website here.

What makes Wisdom Panel 3.0 different from previous versions?

Aside from expanding the breed screening coverage, the 3.0 has MDR1 genetic mutation screening. MDR1 (Multi-Drug Resistance 1) is a genetic mutation found in many mixed breeds dogs (some herding and sight hound breeds, as well). Dogs with MDR1 may have severe adverse reactions to some common drugs. Therefore, mixed breeds (and some purebreds with the high-propensity breeds) should be tested to hopefully prevent any of the adverse reactions. For more information on breeds and drugs affected by the MDR1 mutation, visit www.wisdompanel.com/MDR1_Disease_Screening.

Now through December, the WISDOM PANEL® “SWAB-A-THON” TOUR will visit various locations to offer swabbing for dogs. Through this tour, Wisdom Panel will strive to educate dog owners on the importance of genetic testing and how it will help them be better pup parents. By having better knowledge of their dog’s background, owners can better understand, take better care of, and build a stronger relationship with their pet.

Bring your dog to the Wisdom Panel booth at any Swab-a-thon event in your area, and get him swabbed on site for a special price ($39.99)! You can also take home a discounted DIY kit ($49.99; MSRP $84.99). About three weeks after the cheek swab test is received, you’ll be emailed an official Ancestry Report revealing your dog’s genetic background!

Swab-a-thon Events:

America’s Family Pet Expo – Costa Mesa, CA – (April 10 -12)
GoPRO Mountain Games – Vail, CO – (June 4 – 7)
Amazing Pet Expo – Austin, TX – (August 1)
Mars Pet Adoption Fair – Franklin, TN – (October – exact date TBD)
Amazing Pet Expo Holiday – Pomona, CA – (December 5)

For more information on Wisdom Panel 3.0, Swab-a-thon events, updates, and discounts, follow Wisdom Panel on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

To purchase a Wisdom Panel 3.0 kit, please visit their website.

Image Courtesy of Wisdom Panel

I can’t wait to get Archie’s Wisdom Panel 3.0 done! Are you going to get your fur baby’s DNA tested, too?

Thank you so much for reading!