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Losing Weight & Essentialzymes – Part 4 of the Slique™ Series

Posted by html404 on March 27, 2012
in Health, Health & Garden Tuesday, Health and Nutrition

This is my very belated Health and Garden Tuesday post from two weeks ago. I had sick children that week and loads of catch up to do besides, so bear with me as I gather my thoughts and share my journey to losing weight (or lack there of).

First the product, then my story.

Essentialzymes

Essentialzymes are two capsules that you take before your meal for digestion and to add enzymes to your digestive tract. Here’s the product description:

Essentialzymes-4 is a multi-spectrum enzyme complex specially formulated to aid the critically needed digestion of dietary fats, proteins, fiber, and carbohydrates commonly found in the modern processed diet. The dual time-release technology releases the animal- and plant-based enzymes at separate times within the digestive tract, allowing for optimal nutrient absorption.

They really have no taste, obviously since you swallow them whole. I take them before meals with a glass of water. I do know the days I was doing the Slique™ Challenge, I truly experienced more energy, feelings of fullness and more regularity.

Lost My Motivation

I shared that I was participating in the Slique™ Challenge, well once I sent my photos in they requested that I retake them holding the newspaper, as I had sent in the photo of the newspaper in separately because I didn’t know I was suppose to hold it! I kind of lost my motivation then because it took me a month to decide to take photos, to participate and then blog about it. I have been thinking about it more and since we probably won’t be able to attend Young Living’s annual convention in Utah in June, which was a huge motivator… that and winning the $5000 cash prize….I have decided not to continue. I may purchase the products as I need them, but I won’t be purchasing the Slique™ kit every month.

Losing Weight & Measuring

I gained 5 pounds last time I weighed myself a week ago. 🙁 Blah. I have yet to weigh myself again. I hate this whole process.

I measured myself a week ago Saturday and made my little notes of it, so we’ll see it that helps noticing any change. As of last week, it seemed like certain measurements had increased but not all. Go figure.

My Struggle

My struggle is lack of consistency when trying to do a program like this. I cheat. I miss my regular food. I fall off the wagon and do not get the results I want because I am not being faithful. Vicious cycle and I don’t want to waste money if I am not going to stick with it faithfully. I know it could work if I would discipline myself and eat different food than my family but we just are not set up to do that. Seriously. And to be honest, I must not want this enough or else I would stick to it. For example, when I want something like wanting to earn an income from home, I’ve never quit and I work hard to supplement our income.

Lack of Exercise

I am lacking in exercise. It’s been beautiful out but I still have yet to get for a walk. Oh I did shop at Costco today! Whoopie! (this was two weeks ago now!) I long for the days when gardening will be my exercise! Who has time to add yet another thing to do in a day, I’d much rather multitask and count it as 2 or even more things.

Update: However, I did take three walks last week with my children and jumped rope another day…..progress!

Moving Forward

I don’t have a definite game plan, except to increase my exercise. I know that works for me and with gardening, yard work, walks, jumping rope….that will all help towards that goal. Plus I’ll be eating more fresh veggies while I am at it!

Losing weight is a journey of an overall lifestyle change, which our whole family has been on for years.

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Hungry for Change: From the Creators of Food Matters

Posted by html404 on March 21, 2012
in Community Issues, DVDs & CDs, Food and Treats, Free Stuff, Health, Health and Nutrition, Movies, News Worthy

I love sharing about new resources that educate people about our current Big Ag food system and anything that helps people realize we do not need big corporations controlling our food. Hungry for Change is a new movie from the creator of Food Matters (another must see!). This is a direct quote from FRESH’s email as I am about to watch the movie with one of my sons and whoever else is propelled towards the sound of a movie playing…..so here it is:

Today marks the worldwide premiere of Hungry for Change, and you can watch it online for FREE until March 31st. Check it out today!

http://www.hungryforchange.tv/fresh

In this movie, you’ll hear the truth behind “diet,” “sugar-free,” and “fat-free” products, and learn what to avoid in your supermarket. You’ll be inspired by transformational stories from people who have recovered from being sick and overweight. You’ll find the solutions to vibrant health for yourself and your family. So, watch the movie and share the knowledge with a friend–it may save a life!

To a more energetic you,

Ana and Crystal
The FRESH Team

P.S. Want to support good food and our work at FRESH? Consider adding to our tip jar.

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Malnourished Children & Future Fortified Campaign

Posted by html404 on March 8, 2012
in Giving Back/Charity, Health, Health and Nutrition

There are needs everywhere and it is impossible to meet them all, but just once I would love to be able to help every person and every organization I know needs that help. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Alas, I can only help a few at a time.

I have joined another campaign involving Future Fortified to help children.

The Campaign

Future Fortified is a campaign of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) to help millions of women and children around the world access the essential nutrients they need to lead healthy, enriched lives. Our goal is to provide sustainable access to improved nutrition for 50 million women and children in developing countries by 2015.

Did you know…

~ Approximately two billion people around the world do not receive the daily recommended nutrients they need for proper growth and development?
~ 35% of all deaths each year among children is due to poor nutrition in mothers and children?
(Source: Future Fortified)

1,000 Days from Future Fortified on Vimeo.

Home Nutrition Packets

Home Nutrition Packets are Future Fortified’s solution to this problem. It is a little packet of nutrients that women and children can simply sprinkle over their meal for added nutrition.

My thoughts

I actually think this is a great solution and would be very easy to use since the idea is for families to just add the nutrients to their local food. It sounds like the packets will be small enough to carry, handout or ship. That would be a bonus compared to bulky containers that supplements can come in. The families wouldn’t have mix anything and there are no complicated instructions.

Giving Back

A donation of $20 is being made to Future Fortified because bloggers like me are writing posts to spread the word about this campaign. Donations will cap at $1000.

More Information and to Join the Campaign

Website: http://futurefortified.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FutureFortified
Twitter: https://twitter.com/futurefortified

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Future Fortified. To thank me for my contribution, Mom Central donated $20 to the Future Fortified campaign.”

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Balance Complete – Part 3 of the Slique™ Series

Posted by html404 on March 6, 2012
in Health, Health & Garden Tuesday, Health and Garden Tuesday, Health and Nutrition

Some comments left last week made me think that there is some misunderstanding concerning how I am doing with the Slique™ Challenge to achieve my weight loss goals. The photo below is the suggested regimen:

This is what my meals may look like on any given day:

Meals

Breakfast: I am big on breakfast. It is pretty much my favorite meal. I start out by having my orange juice with my vitamins and fish oil. Then we usually have cold cereal, oatmeal, toast, eggs or pancakes.

Snack: Slique™ Tea, water with Slique™ Essence, sometimes a piece of fruit or dried fruit like Craisins or Wolfberries. My Ningxia Red, which is a nutritional drink full of antioxidants.

Lunch: Slique™ Tea 15 minutes before. Balance Complete (a meal replacement shake) or a light lunch. Eaten with enzymes (for digestion).

Snack: Slique™ Tea, water with Slique™ Essence.

Supper: Slique™ Tea 15 minutes before. Balance Complete or a light supper. Eaten with enzymes.

For the most part I have not been consistent in doing any of this. It’s been hit or miss and I have mostly been eating what my family eats. I have had no weight loss so far in the last week and three days. Nor have I gained any. I am hoping to up my activity to some walks this week, but we’ll see if I make that goal. I am also an emotional eater, which was taught as a wee one I am sure, so if I have a bad day I tend to eat more. Lots of bad habits to change.

Balance Complete

This is a meal replacement powder. It is vanilla flavored. It smells good and tastes good. I prefer to take it in cold water. I need to start making this one of my meals to see if that helps me drop some pounds.

Inches

I met someone at an essential oils educational class last who is also doing the Slique™ Challenge and she is not only weighing herself but measuring herself. So while she has not dropped any pounds, she has lost inches, which keeps her motivated! Pretty good idea, one I plan to implement as soon as I find my tape measure or purchase a new one!

That concludes Part 3 of the Slique™ Series.

Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

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Kid-Safe Chemicals – Must See Video

Posted by html404 on March 3, 2012
in Eco Friendly Products, Education, Health, Health and Nutrition, Safety

This is a must see video if you are even remotely curious or concerned with the amount of chemicals our children are exposed to today. Thanks to the Environmental Working Group (EWG.org). They also have a site that allows you to look up ingredients, which I cannot seem to find that link right now but will add once I find it:

This video is precisely why we are changing the products we use and the foods we eat. It is for the future of our children and future generations. A change must occur. What will you do?

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Weight Loss Goals with Slique™ Tea – Part 2 of the Slique™ Series

Posted by html404 on February 28, 2012
in All Natural Products, Health, Health & Garden Tuesday, Health and Nutrition

Last week I shared my struggle with weight loss and told you my plan to do the Slique™ Tea Challenge. At first I wasn’t sure what that even meant for me. I just knew I was going to do my best to follow the guidelines set forth within the kit.

Weight Loss and Slique™ Tea

I didn’t do too badly this past week. I didn’t get to weigh myself until Friday so no known weight loss to speak of yet. However, I can tell you on my most successful days I do notice that my appetite is less that it usually is. In last week’s post I shared just a wee bit about the Slique™ Tea and how it tastes good and is suppose to suppress appetite and give you natural energy. I can attest that it does as I have been pulling really late nights for the better part of a week and a half now! Usually I can only go a couple of nights before I crash (getting older you know! HA!). I have had a lot to do.

I wanted to show you that I really am drinking it! Next week I’ll remember to show a cup of tea! 😉

Slique™ Tea contains a blend of Ecuadorian ocotea leaf (natives used it for health and wellness), a member of the cinnamon family, Amazonian caco, proprietary vanilla essential oil, jade oolong tea leaves (antioxidant content), stevia and 100% therapeutic grade Arabian frankincense powder, exclusive to Salah, Oman. No wonder it tastes good!

Slique™ Essence

This week I am going to talk to you about the Slique™ Essence, the second product of five that are a part of the Slique™ Kit. It is very flavorful and I have been putting a drop or two in my water and there is a nice feeling of fullness that comes with drinking a couple glasses of water between meals. Not that I have not been hungry at all, I have been, but neither have I been 100% true to the guidelines. I forget to take my tea 15 minutes before my meals or take my enzymes with my meal etc. Plus I am still nursing my youngest so I am starting out slow as I do not want to do anything to jeopardize my milk supply. I am trying to adapt it to my son’s breastfeeding needs. When I weigh myself Friday, I will know if I have to tweak things depending on my weight loss or lack thereof.

I wanted to show you that my bottle is being used. Notice the yellow stains around the cover on the front and more so in the back, as shown below.

Slique™ Essence is made up of these essential oils: grapefruit, tangerine, lemon, spearmint, and ocotea with stevia extract in a unique blend that supports healthy weight management goals. These ingredients work together to help control hunger, especially when used in conjunction with Slique™ Tea or the Slique™ Kit. Several studies have actually been done on this proprietary blend, which is impressive. More and more studies are being done on essential oils and the health benefits they provide, which makes me very excited! (see PubMed)

Exercise

So far I have not implemented any exercise program, which I need to do. Tune in next week to see how week two goes!

Slique™ Challenge

This is how motivated I am…I actually joined Young Living’s Slique™ Challenge, open to all new and currently active distributors. For the challenge we had to send two photos of ourselves (front and side view), our age, weight and our weight loss goals. I just did this last night. We do have to purchase a Slique™ Kit from now through May and be at the Young Living 2012 convention. At the convention six $5000 prizes will be awarded to those who lost the most weight, if I remember correctly. So every month I will have to send my weight and photos! Yikes! How humbling is that? But you know when I think about a prize like that procrastination kind of flies out the window! Like I said, I have never, ever done anything like this before, here’s to a first of firsts! By blogging to all of you I am holding myself to a higher level of accountability or at least I’d like to think I am. (wry smile!)

There you have it, my progression so far. I survived the first week…or so. Any of you make any steps forward in your weight loss goals? What is the hardest thing you are facing?

Giveaway at Planet Weidknecht!

If you would like to win a box of Slique™ Tea, we are hosting a giveaway over at Planet Weidknecht! Ends 3/4. Thanks for your support!

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Vegetable Gardening

Posted by Brande on February 23, 2012
in All Natural Products, Coupons, Deals, Farm Stuff, Free Stuff, Fun Stuff, Gardening, Health, Health and Nutrition, Organic, Saving Money, Shopping, Thrifty Thursday

Spring is Coming!

I found this great deal for vegetable gardening and it all starts with a bumper sticker. A bumper sticker? Yes. Use this link to the left and get your free bumper sticker! When you put your information in you’ll receive an email to confirm your email address. THEN, you’ll get a promo code for 53% off “Seeds of the Month Club“.

Some background – Mike the Gardner Enterprises is located in NJ. Mike is a 3rd generation home vegetable gardner and author. Mike has been featured in many publications around the world with articles and tips, including ABC & NBC.

Mike also has a podcast, blog and can be found on Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, LinkedIN, Pinterest, & Google +.

“Seeds of the Month Club” – According to their website. “All seeds are non-gmo, open pollinated heirloom varieties that have been tested for a germination rate of 90% and higher. ”

“You receive 8 packs of seeds your first month and 4 packages each month thereafter. With a 30 day money back guarantee.”

With the 53% off it cost $15.06 for the year! I signed up, so we’ll see what it’s like. Granted, I don’t know what kind of seeds I’ll receive monthly. It’s still a great deal!

Happy Growing!

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LISTERINE® and REACH® #HealthyHabits for a Lifetime Oral Care Challenge!

Posted by html404 on February 22, 2012
in Family Stuff, Personal Care Products

Did you know that 75% of all American adults have periodontal disease and do not even know it?
Did you know that there are billions of germs in our mouth, more than there are people on the earth? That’s a lot isn’t it?
Did you know that a third of the people in the US do not eat their favorite food or smile because of dental problems?
Did you know that 50% of American children will have a cavity between the ages of 5 and 9?
Did you know that 51 million hours of school are missed each year due to dental issues?

Pretty sobering, eh?

We have been struggling with a couple of our children’s oral care habits. No matter what we say nothing seems to get through to them, until recently one of my older daughters was explaining in detail what happened to teeth when the dirt, sugar and germs broke down the tooth. That particular child said, “Really?” Then took off to brush his teeth. A break through? Maybe, but I have my doubts so that is why we are participating in LISTERINE® and REACH® Healthy Habits for a Lifetime Oral Care Challenge!

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing and participating in the Healthy Habits for a Lifetime Oral Care Challenge. We are being compensated by Johnson & Johnson and TheMotherhood. While we consider it a privilege to receive free products to review and compensation, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.

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Slique™ Kit

Posted by html404 on February 21, 2012
in All Natural Products, Health, Health and Garden Tuesday, Health and Nutrition

For all of my child bearing years, I have struggled with my weight. Actually, I have struggled since I was a child, I just managed it better in my late teens through mid-twenties with lots and lots of exercise! I am currently at my highest weight ever. I have tried to focus on my mothering more than my weight and protecting my girls from the idea that “I am not good enough” subconscious message that the media pushes on all females. I worked hard to instill in them that beauty comes from within not from what size clothing they wear. It is hard when the “thin” message is everywhere we look and most people have succumbed to those thoughts as the norm. I mean look at me I am still entrenched in it! The thing is even a couple of years ago I was ok, as long as I didn’t gain anymore but I have and don’t want to gain anymore. I am really not happy with my where my weight is now. Yet I still worry if I try to lose weight what message I will be sending to my daughters. It’s a catch-22.

However, my youngest is 18 months old and we have a new product through our Cornucopia Health Scents business, I thought I would try something I have never done before in hopes of getting phenomenal results while giving my body nutrition it needs. This new product just arrived last week and we do sell it, so anyone interested, please visit the Lose Weight tab at the top of the blog or visit our business site.

Slique Kit

The Product Description (credit for this goes to Jeanmarie Hepworth and is used with permission):

A Revolutionary New Weight Management System featuring Slique™ Tea and the New Essential Oil Blend Slique™ Essence!

The products in this collection work together to support effective weight management by:

Suppressing appetite and food cravings while increasing metabolism

Providing low-calorie supplements that are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and catechins

Helping with the breakdown and absorption of food

There are two kit choices non-vegetarian and vegetarian.

Lose weight and improve your health with the Slique Experience!

My Personal Goal

I have tried a box of the Slique™ Tea on its own when it came out in the fall, but sold my other box at a trade show, so I was excited to try it again. It is really very good. Since it has stevia (a natural sweetener that comes from the stevia plant), no other sugar is needed.

If I am brave enough, I will share my journey with you in upcoming posts. Being a private person, I am hesitant to make myself that vulnerable to be honest, so I haven’t quite decided what I will do yet. However, I will take the next few weeks to go through each of the products in the Slique™ Tea kit and let you know how I like them. Then at the end of this series I will be offering a giveaway of one Slique™ Tea kit to one of YOU! ($275/$285 Value) One of the biggest giveaways we have ever had on Faith and Family Reviews! So bring it on, eh!? And be sure to spread the word!

An associate of mine researched other brand name weight loss programs and came to the conclusion that the Slique Tea kit is cheaper than other weight loss programs available. If you have any experience with Nutri System, Jenny Craig or others let me know if $275/month is cheaper.

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Dry Skin

Posted by html404 on February 19, 2012
in Family Stuff, Health and Nutrition, Personal Care Products, Products for Dad, Products for Mom, Shopping

The winter months are hard on the skin and our family is no different. Dry hands, face, elbows and even feet and legs get that scaly cracked skin. This winter my face has been so dry and I cannot figure out why. My husband’s hands have been extra dry and very rough, but he thinks that his frequent use of hand sanitizer may be at the root of his problem. Some of the younger children’s legs have been dry. We do not bathe as often during the winter so it is hard to pin point what is causing the dry skin. It has become my quest to find a solution.

We have tried numerous products and lotion, one has worked better than others but still leaves a greasy residue. That’s why when we were introduced to Dial™ NutriSkin™ I decided to try it. It is new and they are adding extra vitamins and nutrients to it therefore it appealed to me to see what it was like. I went to Walmart since they were having an in-store demo so I could try it before I bought the lotion. I have to be careful what I buy because so many of my children have sensitive skin.

Walmart did not have the full selection of Dial™ NutriSkin™ lotions or body wash. I was really looking forward to trying one of their fruity scented body washes, but they only had two and one was not very fruity smelling. In their lotion, I could only choose from 2 products: Shea Butter and Aloe. The demo lady had a third lotion on the demo table but I forgot to try it after the Aloe because I had so much Aloe on my hands! I liked both in regards to scent, but decided on the Aloe because it was on sale for $3 and the demo lady gave me a coupons for $1 off. I really liked that price compared to the $4 regular price and the $5 price of other brands. So far my hands are still very smooth and soft, not to mention good! My husband just put some on so time will tell Dial™ NutriSkin™ lotion will work for him.

My oldest daughter will be the final judge on this product since she has the most chemical sensitivities.

As a side note, I was talking to a friend this weekend who has eczema and psoriasis and she takes Vitamin D supplements and/or cod liver oil to combat it and it helps. She only does this during the winter months when she doesn’t get enough sunshine.

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions expressed are my own. #DialNutriSkin #Cbias

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