healthy

4 Healthier Alternatives To Coffee When You Are Feeling Tired

September 29, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

Caffeine is the first port of call for most people when they’re feeling tired. In the morning, when you’re trying to wake yourself up and get your day started, a cup of coffee can really help things along. But relying on caffeine to boost your energy levels isn’t a good idea because it actually makes things worse in the long run. After that initial energy boost, you will crash and feel even more tired, which means that you are then reliant on caffeine to keep going throughout the day. Drinking too much caffeine can also increase feelings of stress and anxiety, so it’s important to limit your intake. If you think that you are drinking too much caffeine, why not try some of these alternative ways to boost your energy levels.

Image Source – Pixabay CCO License

Cleaner Caffeine

A cup of coffee doesn’t just contain caffeine, it contains other additives and often sugar and milk, neither of which are good for your energy levels. If you still feel like you can’t do without your caffeine but you want a better way to consume it, look into cleaner caffeine options instead. Zero calorie caffeine powder, with added chemicals, can easily be stirred into any food or drink so you get the boost that you want without any of the added extras. It’s still best to try to cut back on caffeine as much as possible but replacing your morning cup of coffee with a clean caffeine alternative is a great start.

Water

Often, when you wake up in the morning and you feel tired and sluggish, it’s because you are dehydrated. The cup of coffee wakes you up partly because of the caffeine but also because of the water. If you just drink a glass of water before your coffee and see how you feel, you will probably notice a similar effect.

CBD Products

CBD products have a lot of great health benefits and they are perfect for boosting your energy levels in the morning and helping you to start the day right. You can get some great CBD inhalers online from Kaya Hemp Co. and there are some specially formulated ones to help boost your energy levels. CBD also helps to improve sleep and reduce stress, which will help to beat fatigue as well.

Yogurt

Eating a healthy amount of protein in the morning is a brilliant way to boost your energy levels so if you are the kind of person that skips breakfast or eats an unhealthy snack, you need to make some changes. Swapping your morning cup of coffee for a healthy greek yogurt is the perfect way to start the day. It’s packed full of protein, which will boost your energy levels and get your brain in gear. If you add some chopped fruit or other healthy toppings to it, you are getting lots of vital nutrients as well as the protein that your body needs to wake up, so you will notice a huge difference in the way that you feel.

The occasional cup of coffee is fine and you don’t need to cut it out completely, but you should try some of these alternatives instead because they will help to sustain your energy levels throughout the day.

Thank you for reading!

Health

4 Ways To Live A Happy and Healthy Life

July 23, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 4 Comments

We all know that following a healthy diet and getting enough exercise and physical activity is beneficial to your overall health, but they are far from the only things you can do to stay healthy. There are plenty of things that you can do to improve your physical health and your mental health, too, and stop you from turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Image credit: Pixabay CC0 License

Get a good night’s rest

Sleep is essential for maintaining both physical and emotional wellbeing. However, these days, it is not given the priority that it deserves. We are so busy working and caring for others and doing everything else that our active lifestyles demand that we tend to fall into bed exhausted and wake up feeling pretty tired still.

Try putting your sleep first for a while and see how much happier and healthier you feel. It is recommended that you get seven or eight hours of sleep a night, but of course, some people need more, some people need less. Try to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning to get your body into a routine. Cut out or reduce caffeine in the run-up to bedtime, drink plenty of water, and put down your cell phone and other technology devices for at least an hour before bed. Spend this period doing something relaxing and let your body and mind rewind. Some people find warm, milky drinks, or a hot bath can help them.

If you still wake up feeling tired after all of this, take a trip to your doctors. It may be that there is something that is disrupting your sleep cycles. The good news is that there is sleep apnea treatment available and other sleep disorders.

Start saying no

There are only so many things that one person can do. Not only is there only a certain amount of time in a day to do things, but everyone has a mental and physical capacity, and when that is full, anything else can lead to exhaustion and mental health stresses. The best way of dealing with this is knowing when to say “no”. Whether it is turning down an extra hour or two of overtime at work or declining a social invitation so that you can get a good night’s sleep, learn to say no to things that will take you over your mental and physical capacity.

Reach out to others

Loneliness and feeling isolated are two of the biggest causes of depression and other mental health issues, so if you do feel like you are struggling, reach out. In an age where we are surrounded by technology, it has never been easier to communicate with other people, whether that is face to face, via video call, social media, or email. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a friend or family member. There are support groups available for almost everything and online groups and forums where you can chat and make friends if doing it in person is a challenge.

Seriously Consider Professional Help

We mentioned that you should reach out to someone that cares about you, but it’s also wise to consider further action if you feel as though those close to you cannot be enough. A one-on-one meeting with a psychiatrist might help to save your mental stability if ever you look to be falling a little. Even something as significant as a NAD Treatment Center could come into your thinking if you feel as though your own self-improvement might not be enough. You need to do what you can to improve your life, and there’s no shame in admitting you need assistance.

•What are your tips for living a healthy and happy life?

Thank you for reading!

Health Nutrition

Make Breakfast Into The Healthiest Meal Of The Day

May 19, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

Breakfast is, as we’re commonly told, the most important meal of the day. It gets our metabolism started, gives us the boost of energy we need to get through the morning, and, often, it sets the tone for how we will eat for the rest of the day. As such, if you want a healthy eating day, you need to have a healthy eating breakfast, as well. Here are some ways you can make sure you do that.

Link to Picture – CC0 License

Oat so simple

If you’re in a big rush, then you don’t want to spend too much time fussing around the kitchen. To that end, there are few foods simpler to prepare than a bowl of oats. Make it with skimmed milk or yogurt, add whatever fruits you want (with berries being particularly flavorful and nutritious) and take ten minutes to prepare it all. It’s a great way to get some whole grains into your diet, too.

Give your morning a smooth start

Another lazy and super convenient answer to your morning’s food needs is the faithful smoothie. All you need is a blender and the right ingredients and you’re good to go. To make sure that you’re getting the right nutrients, however, you should vary it up so it’s not always the sugar-filled fruit recipes we all love so dearly. Take the time to incorporate dark, leafy greens like kale and spinach, nut butter, seeds, and greek yogurt.

Tapioca for breakfast?

Tapioca-based puddings are often recommended as a light, gluten-free dessert, but did you know that they are also regularly used as breakfast food? In Indian households, tapioca pearls (or sabudana) are regularly had as a favorite breakfast snack. This recipe for sabudana khichadi can show you precisely how to make it a breakfast. It’s light, it’s vegan, and it’s very quick and easy to make once you’ve got the recipe nailed.

Keep it eggscellent

Like all of the other recipes here, a good egg salad for your breakfast is going to give you bot h a delicious and healthy start to the day. There are a lot of ways you can add some variety to an egg salad recipe, as well. You can serve the egg on avocado on toast, for instance, or simply use it to replace the chicken in a chicken caesar salad.

Pour yourself a cuppa

If you’re looking for something to drink alongside your breakfast, coffee isn’t all that bad for you. However, tea has an even more impressive list of benefits, not to mention a lower caffeine count (if you’re worried about your overall caffeine consumption.) It’s also full of immunity-boosting antioxidants, catechins, so it can even make you less likely to catch seasonal flus, colds, and other pesky bugs.

Hopefully, the tips above help ensure you start your day the right way. You want to make sure your breakfast contains all the energy you need but isn’t so calorie-filled that it weighs you down until lunch.

Thank you for reading!

Health

8 Ways to Become A Healthier Version of You

March 1, 2019 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

https://unsplash.com/photos/S-dmL3p-sEc

Life is what you make it. You can choose to live a big life or a bold life, or you can choose to suffer and struggle. It all really depends on your mindset. However, at the same time, there’s more than just your outlook that can help. And while we will discuss all things mental health and positivity a little later on, it’s important for you to realize that wanting to live well and become the best version of you needs to be holistic. If you want to be better and healthier and happier, then you need to approach this task from a range of angles. Things like diets or obsessive exercise just isn’t enough. Sure, nutrition and fitness matter, but they are not the be all and end all.

Instead, when you want to become the healthiest version of yourself, and you want to be able to improve and find a great place, you need to do it in a range of ways. At first, you’ll focus on one thing. But that one thing alone won’t make masses of changes. Instead, you then need to keep building on your efforts to become better. And the best new is that once you get the ball rolling, it all seems easier. So let’s take a look at the seven ways you should consider to become healthier.

Be Kinder To Yourself

The very first thing that you need to do here, is to think about being a lot kinder to yourself in general. If you are stressed out or you’re always beating yourself up then you need to stop. If you’re struggling with addiction, then you need to get help. It’s important that you’re putting yourself first, and if you are not treating yourself right, then everything else is going to be so much harder.

Work On Your Mindset

Next, you need to make sure that you are working on your mental outlook too. Because this can be so powerful and it can impact on everything else. If you’re negative, you may not be in the best position to make changes. But if you’re much more positive and you’re in a good place mentally, you’ll then be able to benefit your health in other ways too.

Not only will you feel better about yourself and your life, but you’ll be much more productive too, ensuring that important tasks such as organizing your Medicare insurance, renewing your licenses, checking around for cheaper energy suppliers, and all the other small but significant ongoing chores are completed so you no longer have to worry about them.

https://unsplash.com/photos/oaz0raysASk

Exercise Consistently

Now, you also know that you need to exercise to be healthy – as much for your mind as anything else. But it’s not enough to just work out spontaneously. Instead, you’ll want to think about consistently and aiming to start moving your body regularly so that you can feel the benefit.

Drink More Water

Another way that you can then look to become healthier is to make sure that you’re drinking more water. Because hydration is essential for your health. If you’re tired or your skin is looking a little off and you’re not sleeping so great, water can help you. So here, you’re going to want to work on increasing your water intake throughout the day. Even just doing this for a week can bring you great results.

Focus On Fuel

And then, the next thing that you’re going to want to do here, is to makes sure that you’re seeing food as fuel. It’s easy to see it as a comfort or a problem. But really, food is there as an energy source. So you need to treat it as such. Take a look at different healthy breakfast ideas or lunch recipes or even evening meals that look great and fuel your body. When you see food in this way, it can really change your mindset.

Feed Your Emotions

Another side of your health is your emotional health. Think of this in terms of your relationships and social life. Because this all feeds into your overall health levels. SO make sure that you’re working on friendships and social engagements, so that you can feel fulfilled holistically, and not just in your body.

Live Happy

But then the final thing that you might want to think about doing and focusing on, is living a happy life. Not all of us do this, but we should. Because if you want to become happier and healthier and a better version of yourself, then you need to prioritize your happiness. You cannot live your life for others or do things for other people. Instead, you need to be making decisions that fuel your happiness. Because the happier you are, the more your overall health will benefit, and vice versa.

8. Regularly Check In With Your Doctor

You can do an awful lot for yourself, but you’re not going to know every small detail about your health. This is why you should ensure that regular check-ups are a part of your life. Regardless of whether you’re concerned about something, it’s important to see a doctor of Adult Medicine whenever you can. One day, you could be completely fine. The next day? You could have a serious issue. If you have regular appointments, then they’ll be able to catch problems before they even attempt to make things worse.

Thank you for reading!

Uncategorized

Healthy Eating Made Easy with FITzee Foods + Discount

October 22, 2016 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

A couple weeks ago, I looked in the mirror and decided I really, truly needed to make a change. I’ve gained a significant amount of weight in the past few years, and not only does it look terrible, but I FEEL terrible. I’ll admit, this was largely in part to my poor nutrition choices. Luckily there’s FITzee Foods.

Disclosure: I received 14 meals from FITzee Foods in the hopes I would give an honest review on my blog. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions, as always, are 100% my own.

FITzee Foods is a company in San Diego, Calif. that offers fresh (never frozen) pre-packaged, pre-portioned meals. The food is made with all-natural ingredients, including 100% grass-fed beef, 100% free-range chicken, and nitrate + hormone free turkey. The meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks) come in little plastic containers that you put in the microwave when it’s time to eat. So simple!

What is a FITzee, you ask? As it states on their Facebook page,

“A FITzee is a busy professional, entrepreneur, mom, dad, athlete, weekend warrior, fitness enthusiast, and anyone else who seeks a nutritious, delicious, great-tasting alternative to the world of over-processed fast food. A FITzee believes that the path to living well is through eating foods that give you energy & taste great!”

Pictured: Red Chicken Enchiladas

The meals are seriously SO good. You can pick anything you want (and however many you want) if you order a la carte, or get a set amount if you order the meal plans or big boxes (but you still get to choose the meals). You also get to choose between small, medium, and large meals. I can’t eat a lot at once, so the small and medium were perfect for me. I ordered lunches and dinners since I always have a shake for breakfast.

The meals I tried are as follows:

Red Chicken Enchiladas
Paleo Carne Asada Bowl
Paleo BBQ Pork with Sweet Potatoes and Creamy Spinach
Paleo Spaghetti
Grilled Steak Quesadilla
Paleo Thai Coconut Curry Chicken
Paleo Chicken Cauli Rice

My favorite meals were the red chicken enchiladas and the grilled steak quesadilla (pictured below). They’re seriously AMAZING! And so filling. I liked the bbq pork, as well!

There are a lot of companies/services like FITzee Foods, so you’re probably wondering, what makes FITzee Foods stand out? One thing that’s great is that they ship anywhere in the US (and no subscription required!). I’ve tried a different service in this past, but if you don’t live near their retail store, you can’t get their meals. There’s nothing really like FITzee Foods in Las Vegas, so I’m really excited that I can place an order online and have the food shipped to me within a week! It comes in a cooler box, and everything was cold when it arrived. I also like that they have so many Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free options. I don’t follow the Paleo diet, but I try not to consume too much dairy, wheat, soy, refined sugar, and so on. It’s nice that it’s pretty simple to pick meals that align with what I like to eat (or not eat).

Side note: There are also a few retail locations in San Diego where you can pick up your meals!

Photo courtesy of FITzee Foods.

FITzee Foods is graciously offering a 15% discount for my readers! Visit www.fitzeefoods.com , use promo code lyndsinreallife15, and you’ll get 15% off now through Oct. 31st!

I’m really enjoying the convenience of FITzee Foods, and the fact that the meals are incredibly healthy! It’s helping me stay on track with my healthy, active lifestyle, and I am definitely a lifelong customer. Thank you FITzee Foods!

Follow FITzee Foods on Yelp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube (+ their website).

Have you tried a service like FITzee Foods? If not, is it something you’d be interested in?
What types of foods would you like to see in a service like FITzee Foods?
Do you consider yourself a FITzee?

Thank you so much for reading! Subscribe below if you’d like to receive my new posts by email. 🙂

[subscribe2]

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Lifestyle Nutrition

How The Girls & I Celebrated National Picnic Day (With Subway)

April 27, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

This past Thursday, April 23, was National Picnic Day. I didn’t realize this was a thing (apparently there’s a food holiday every day!), but I am all about food and the outdoors. So naturally, I needed to get in on this.

When Subway offered to cater a picnic with the girls I nanny/babysit, I knew it would be a perfect way to celebrate!

Disclosure: Subway provided two $10 gift cards in exchange for a blog post and social media shares. No other monetary compensation was received. I only share about events and products I feel my readers would enjoy. All opinions are 100% my own.

I babysit a 9-year-old girl named Frances (I call her Fran) in West Los Angeles. We have so much fun together, so we were both pretty excited to have a picnic. She invited two of her friends from school, Gia and Mia. We also brought along our dogs, Archie and Little T. We were each able to get a full meal (6-inch sub, chips, and a drink) with the gift cards (I used some of my dollars for cookies #duh). Everything was SO good, even the dogs tried eating it. 😉

First, we stopped at the Subway on Washington Blvd in Culver City, Calif.

Then we had our picnic at the park in Playa Vista, Calif.

(Little T & Archie, respectively) (Mia is wearing blue tights, Frances is wearing a dress, and Gia is wearing a light blue top)

It was a GORGEOUS day for a picnic!

And of course I snapped a few selfies. 😉

It was an awesome day! The girls and I had so much fun; we will probably do it again soon!

A huge thank you to Subway for catering our picnic; it was delicious! Find Subway on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

How did you celebrate National Picnic Day? Did you know about this holiday?
Do you enjoy Subway? What’s your favorite sandwich?
Do you enjoy picnics? (trick question- who doesn’t?!) 😉

Thank you so much for reading!

[subscribe2]

Find me on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Nutrition Reviews

I Love Snacks, & Vegan Cuts Supports This

March 10, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 4 Comments

I love snacks. I love them so much that my boyfriend and I made a silly video talking about our love for snacks.

The problem with snacks is there are SO many options, and with all the marketing ploys (is it really all-natural? Is it really gluten-free) it’s hard to know which snacks are healthy. I’ll stand in the snack aisle and health food aisle in Ralph’s and get frustrated with the countless options of snacks. There’s enough stress in my life, I don’t need to add “choosing snacks” to that list. 😉

So when Vegan Cuts offered to send me a complimentary snack box to review, I jumped at the chance! *All opinions are 100% my own. No monetary compensation was received. This post contains affiliate links.

Vegan Cuts snack box is a monthly subscription box (1, 3, 6, or 12 months) delivered right to your door! Each box contains 7-10 vegan products. I’m not a vegan (or even a vegetarian), but like I said, I LOVE SNACKS; especially when they’re healthy and are on my porch in the morning (aside from all the options, I also despise the grocery store).

The snack box I received was the February box:

This box contained these fabulous snacks:

Emmy’s Organics macaroons (@emmysorganics) – these were my FAVORITE of all the snacks! Who knew something so delicious could be healthy?!

Ziggy Marley Organics hemp seeds (@ZM_Organics)
Beanfields bean and rice chips, nacho flavor (T: @beanfieldssnack — IG: @beanfieldssnacks)
Sunwarrior vanilla protein blend (T: @sunwarrior — IG: sunwarriortribe)
Seneca Snacks natural apple chips (@senecasnacks) – these were a favorite!!
Munkijo organic coconut water (T: @munkijoorganic – IG: @munkijoorganics) – I have a serious love for coconut water!
180 Snacks bite-sized popped rice snacks with almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, and cranberries (@180snacks) – SO good!!
Nuttzo organic nut and seed butter (came in a packet to mix) (@eatnuttzo)
Bonelli Fine Food Simply Sesame spread – vanilla with almond bits
Chips that are air popped, but I forget the brand/name and I already ate them!

You can get your own snack box for $19.95/mo. by subscribing here! Use code FEBSNACKS for $5 off your purchase in their shop ($25 minimum required). Also, if you post a photo of your box and tag @vegancuts + #vegancuts, you’re automatically entered to win a FREE box!

I also want to mention that Vegan Cuts has way more than just snacks. They have a beauty box, fashion box, vegan yoga box (need this), RawJuvenate detox kit, vegan starter kit, a baby gift pack, and so much more! Plus you can buy products from their store at discounted prices.

Follow Vegan Cuts on Social Media:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube

So, what do you think?

Are you a fan of subscription boxes?
Do you despise the grocery store like I do?
Are you a vegan, and if not, would you try this box?

Share with me in the comments below! I’d love to hear your thoughts. 🙂

Thank you so much for reading my blog! Connect with me on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook 🙂

[subscribe2]

Nutrition

Coconut Water Smoothie Recipe + LiveZola Contest

March 9, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 3 Comments

The weather is warming up! Well, unless you’re in the Midwest or East coast (sorry about that!). But here in sunny SoCal, it’s officially summer. The temps are in the 80s, the rain has passed, and the sun is shining bright! With warm weather comes the desire for an ice cold pop (okay, not really pop, but something cold). For me, that means it’s time to experiment with new smoothie recipes!

I usually use coconut milk in my smoothies, but Zola was awesome enough to send me a 12 pack of Zola coconut water (regular, with pulp, and espresso) to try some new recipes for their contest! *No monetary compensation was received. This post contains affiliate links.

As some of you know, I have a serious obsession with coconut water. I first tried it last July (thanks to Zola!), and instantly became hooked. So you can imagine my excitement for coming up with a coconut water smoothie recipe!

Here’s the details for the #ZolaJuiceShop contest (ends March 16, so get your entries in ASAP):

Contest runs through March 16th
The contest is hosted on Facebook (http://bit.ly/1AwCoWz) but you can enter by uploading an image in four ways: direct from your Facebook photos, from your computer, or by sharing a picture through Twitter or Instagram and using the hashtag #ZolaJuiceShop
Submit the actual recipe in the entry form along with the image of the smoothie, but the recipe itself is not required
There will be three grand prize winners who will each win a Vitamix Professional Blender (not this exact one), a $200 gift card to their grocery store, and a 1-year supply of Zola. We are selecting one winner for each of the following categories:

Most creative/inventive smoothie
Best use of Zola Acai Juice/Zola Coconut Water in the recipe
Best use of a functional ingredient to benefit a healthy & active lifestyle

Get your entries in and good luck!!

Zola Coconut Banana Berry Blend Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 cup ice
1 cup Zola coconut water
1 cup spinach
1/4 cup raspberries
1/4 cup blueberries
1/2 banana
1 tbsp chia seeds
I added a bit more coconut water for easy blending*

Put the ingredients in a blender (in order listed):

Serve & enjoy!

Want a pinable image to share? Cool, because I have one! 😉

To create your delicious smoothies, use the store locator to find Zola near you. Don’t forget to submit your entries by March 16!

Follow Zola on social media:

Website – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – Youtube – Pinterest

What is your favorite smoothie recipe?
What is your food/drink obsession? 😉

Share with me in the comment section below!

Thank you for reading my blog! Connect with me on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook!

[subscribe2]

Lifestyle Nutrition Reviews SoCal

Are You Too Busy To Cook, But Still Want Healthy Meals? My Fit Foods Has A Solution For That

February 16, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 8 Comments

Let’s face it, we live in a pretty fast-paced world. We are constantly on-the-go, whether it’s for work, school, parental responsibilities, and so on. One of the first things to fall by the wayside is cooking, let alone healthy cooking. Of course we want to be healthy, fit, and fueled by good nutrition, but what are we to do when we don’t have the time to meal prep?

The answer? My Fit Foods.

The My Fit Foods Store in Studio City, California

Disclosure: A My Fit Foods PR representative contacted me to visit a MFF store, and share my experience on my blog. I received one day’s worth of food for free so I could offer my honest opinion. No other compensation was received. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

What is My Fit Foods?

Created by personal trainer and former Marine Mario Mendias, MFF is “a revolutionary new way to enjoy fresh, great tasting, and healthy food on your schedule.” Mendias started cooking meals in his home for his clients in 2006. His concept then grew into what My Fit Foods is today. There are various stores throughout Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, California, and Illinois (Chicago). I visited the store in Studio City (Los Angeles), California. Each store is stocked full of healthy, pre-portioned meals. There are several options, such as gluten-free (note: the kitchen is not certified gluten-free), sodium sensitive and calorie controlled, low glycemic grains, fresh produce, and antioxidant rich spices.

How Does It Work?

You walk into a MFF store and tell them what you’re looking for (quick meals, dinners only, etc). There’s an entire wall of refrigerated food: snacks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and desserts. You can either look at the meals and choose what you would like to purchase, or ask for the on-site nutrition coach (Studio City’s coach is Natalie). The customized nutrition coaching is complimentary, meaning FREE! Each coach is highly-trained and certified.

Here’s A Walk Through Of How I Started:

I met with Natalie (and MFF PR representative Whitney) to talk about what MFF offers. I shared my struggles and my goals with Natalie. For example, I’m always on-the-go, 7 days a week. I know how to eat healthy (I used to be a health coach), but I don’t know what my body specifically needs. Should I be gluten-free? Is red meat really going to give me a heart attack? There are so many fad diets out there (especially in LA), that I feel like our perception of good health gets skewed. Also, I really dislike cooking.

Natalie told me about their 21 Day Challenge. Basically with this challenge, Natalie (or that store’s nutrition coach) puts together a customized 21 day meal plan based on your health goals, lifestyle, occupation/schedule, and what your body needs. She tailors it to your likes; for example, I don’t like seafood. So she was able to put together a plan that didn’t contain seafood, but still offered enough calories, vitamins, and so on for what my body needs. Natalie printed out a form that has your meals/snacks laid out for 21 days. It’s awesome, because you won’t really have to think about what to eat and when to eat it. I’m sure some people want to have the freedom to eat what and when they want, but for people like me, I want whatever is the simplest option! I would then pick up my food in the store twice a week.

Photos courtesy of MFF’s website

When doing the challenge, Natalie recommends a multivitamin (there’s one for men and one for women) and a liver cleanse to clear the toxins out of your liver. I’m not doing the 21 day challenge at the moment, so I did not purchase either of these. However, I did purchase their raspberry B12 liquid supplement (my body is severely lacking in B vitamins). It comes in a dropper bottle, so I mix it with my Drip Drop hydration drink. It’s delicious! I also purchased a bottle of probiotics, which my body desperately needs as well.

Does The Food Taste Good?

Yes! So good. I am a very picky eater, so I was happy to see how many options there were! I took home a one day supply of fresh meals (never frozen and cooked/delivered every morning) and tried each of them three hours apart (Natalie’s recommendation). My boyfriend, Tim, also tried the meals/snacks. Tim tends to be skeptical of things that cost money when he can just do it at home. He tried the meals thinking he wasn’t going to like any of it; he LOVED all of it! And I agree. Everything was super delicious! The meals range between $5 and $12 (each). The snacks range from $1 to $4.

My First Day Consisted Of:

Breakfast: Oat Bake (my favorite meal)
Snack: Protein Bar (their brand)
Lunch: Gimme More Chicken Wrap
Snack: Veggies In The Raw
Dinner: Asian Flat Iron

MFF Oat Bake

I purchased these absolutely DELISH raw cacao truffles (60 calories for one) because I like to have a piece of chocolate after dinner. I definitely need some more! 😉

I’m excited to begin my 21 day challenge with My Fit Foods! Like I said before, my schedule makes it hard to eat healthy consistently. Since the meals can be microwaved (or cooked on stove top for a bit more flavor), I can definitely take them with me. The snacks can either travel in an insulated tote or simply in your bag if they don’t need refrigerated. If you don’t have a tote, they have ones in the store! And they’re big enough to hold a day’s worth of meals/snacks. I will definitely be going back to pick up food for myself and Tim, and probably this week!

To find a My Fit Foods store near you, visit their website –> locations (or click here).

To check out their entire menu, visit their website –> menu (or click here).

There’s also a list of 101 reasons why MFF helps you lose weight and live healthier that’s pretty awesome!

Follow My Fit Foods on social media to keep up-to-date with the company:

Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram – YouTube – LinkedIn

What is the hardest challenge you face while maintaining your healthy lifestyle?
Would you be interested in a store like MFF? What do you like/dislike about it?

Thank you for reading my blog! I love chatting with people, so please leave a comment below. 🙂 Thank you to My Fit Foods for the opportunity!

[subscribe2]

XO

Lyndsay

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Fitness Nutrition Reviews

Get A Limited Edition Bulu Box: Best of 2014!

January 7, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

Have you ever subscribed to Bulu Box? If so, this is a great recap of 2014! If not, now is the PERFECT time to sample the best products of 2014!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I receive a commission if any sales are made using my links. I received a free limited edition Bulu Box to review on my blog. All opinions are 100% my own.

Bulu Box is a subscription-based box (mailed to you each month) that contains samples (and sometimes full-size products) of various health and fitness products.

This limited edition Bulu Box features the best products of 2014; all for 70% off. You can get this one-time box for only $24.99. That is a GREAT deal!

So, what’s in this awesome limited edition box?!

Shapeology Burn Blend (one of my favorites; I have a full-size at home!): Most thermogenics just help blast fat. Burn Blend sends it running. With clinically proven ingredients, Burn Blend mimics the effects of high metabolism so that you burn more calories and lose weight fast! Plus, the liquid delivery system means you can feel it working immediately.*
MeStrength Electrolyte & Creatine Drink Mix: Get pre- or post-workout hydration through 5 essential electrolytes while boosting your endurance with creatine, a renowned addition to any workout program.*
LoudTruck Energy Gummi Bears: Loud Truck Energy Gummi Bears will take your energy levels through the roof with a synergistic blend of vitamins, antioxidants and natural caffeine sources. Each serving of these Energy Gummi Bears mimics the energy levels of typical stimulant drinks without the worry of refrigeration or spills.*
BluCetin: BluCetin helps support your liver with a unique, synergistic combination of natural ingredients. The natural ingredients have been shown to help promote healthy liver function. BluCetin is designed to help keep your liver performing at its best.*
Quest Bar Cookies and Cream (not pictured, because I ate it ASAP): Get complete nutrition from great tasting and convenient Quest Protein Bars. Quest Bars stand apart with low carb, high protein, high fiber and no trans fats. Best of all, Quest Bars are an easy snack or meal with award-winning taste!*
Full Size Chike Powdered Peanut Butter (similar to PB2): Upgrade your peanut butter to a no-guilt comfort food with less fat and calories than traditional peanut butter with Chike Powdered Peanut Butter. Just mix the versatile powder with water to your personal preference and use for PB&Js and in your favorite recipes, desserts and nutrition shakes.*
Full Size Creative Bioscience Garcinia Cambogia Green Coffee Bean Complex: (ON SALE for $32.99 – originally $59.95) Creative Bioscience’s Garcinia Cambogia Green Coffee Bean Complex combines the appetite suppressant power of Garcinia Cambogia with fat burning power of Green Coffee Bean.*
Nuvia Cafe: Support your immune system and suppress your appetite all with a morning cup of coffee. Nuvia Café uses premium Sumatran Arabica coffee combined with a trifecta of legendary ingredients including: ganoderma, ECGC and pomegranate for a boost of antioxidants. *
Rootology (love this product!): Breathe Free: With a new, more potent formula, Rootology is the best blend of concentrated herbal extracts that work individually and in concert with one another to immediately support nasal, sinus and eye health for dramatic seasonal allergy relief without a prescription. Stay healthy to stay active.*
Beauty Bursts: Beauty Bursts deliver high absorption beauty nutrients in delectable, gourmet soft chews. Beauty Bursts contain Collagen Type 1 & 3 to firm and smooth the skin and strengthen hair and nails. Beauty Bursts help hydrate and renew your skin to give it a fresh radiant look. *
BiPro Whey Protein: Help your muscles repair more rapidly with this advanced protein isolate. BiPro Whey Protein Isolate combines the muscle-buidling power of whey protein and the recovery properties of BCAAs to help speed up the recovery process so you feel less sore tomorrow.*
NLA for Her Uplift: Fuel your workout with Uplift, designed and dosed for peak effectiveness for women. NLA for Her created Uplift to increase energy and improve endurance for female athletes. Uplift increases fast twitch muscle fiber activation during your workout.*
K-Pax Energy: Get a healthy and immediate energy boost! KPAX uses the perfect combination of vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants and just the right amount of caffeine to get you up and ready to take on your workout or workday with no sugars, artificial taste or sweeteners.*
Calsura: A deficit in calcium can lead to hunger cravings which means you could end up off track with your weight loss goals. Calsura is a fast-dissolving calcium supplement that has a high rate of calcium absorption to get the nutrients where they’re needed, fast.*
Smarty Pants All-in-One Adult Complete + Fiber Gummy Multivitamin: This complete multivitamin gummy comes packed with Omega-3s, Vitamin D3 and is an excellent source of soluble fiber to promote healthy digestion! Of course, they come with the same amazing Smarty Pants taste.*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

To purchase this limited edition box, go to bulubox.com (link will take you directly to the box) & check out as usual! No coupon code needed. In addition to this box, there are a few products on sale right now, too! So if you want to purchase any full-size products, be sure to look for coupon codes (on the website)!

A few current sales are:

This limited edition box is only available until January 31st, so get yours ASAP! I hope you love it as much as I do. 🙂

Tweet: Get a LIMITED EDITION @bulubox – Best of 2014! See @balancebrunette’s review: http://ctt.ec/flTFP+ (aff. links) #BuluBox #fitness #health

Thank you so much for reading my blog! If you like what you see, I invite you to subscribe to new posts via email! 🙂

[subscribe2]

Cleaner Caffeine

Water

CBD Products

Yogurt

Disclosure: I received 14 meals from FITzee Foods in the hopes I would give an honest review on my blog. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions, as always, are 100% my own.

Pictured: Red Chicken Enchiladas

Photo courtesy of FITzee Foods.

FITzee Foods is graciously offering a 15% discount for my readers! Visit www.fitzeefoods.com , use promo code lyndsinreallife15, and you’ll get 15% off now through Oct. 31st!

Have you tried a service like FITzee Foods? If not, is it something you’d be interested in?

What types of foods would you like to see in a service like FITzee Foods?

Do you consider yourself a FITzee?

Thank you so much for reading! Subscribe below if you’d like to receive my new posts by email. 🙂

[subscribe2]

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

First, we stopped at the Subway on Washington Blvd in Culver City, Calif.

Then we had our picnic at the park in Playa Vista, Calif.

It was a GORGEOUS day for a picnic!

And of course I snapped a few selfies. 😉

Thank you so much for reading!

Find me on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

The snack box I received was the February box:

This box contained these fabulous snacks:

Follow Vegan Cuts on Social Media:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube

Thank you so much for reading my blog! Connect with me on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook 🙂

Here’s the details for the #ZolaJuiceShop contest (ends March 16, so get your entries in ASAP):

Zola Coconut Banana Berry Blend Smoothie

Ingredients:

Put the ingredients in a blender (in order listed):

Serve & enjoy!

Want a pinable image to share? Cool, because I have one! 😉

To create your delicious smoothies, use the store locator to find Zola near you. Don’t forget to submit your entries by March 16!

Follow Zola on social media:

Website – Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – Youtube – Pinterest

What is My Fit Foods?

How Does It Work?

Here’s A Walk Through Of How I Started:

Does The Food Taste Good?

My First Day Consisted Of:

Follow My Fit Foods on social media to keep up-to-date with the company:

XO

Lyndsay

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

This limited edition Bulu Box features the best products of 2014; all for 70% off. You can get this one-time box for only $24.99. That is a GREAT deal!

So, what’s in this awesome limited edition box?!

A few current sales are:

This limited edition box is only available until January 31st, so get yours ASAP! I hope you love it as much as I do. 🙂

Thank you so much for reading my blog! If you like what you see, I invite you to subscribe to new posts via email! 🙂

XO

Lyndsay

Twitter | Instagram