Hey everyone! Thank you for sharing all of your cell phone stories with me yesterday! I’m glad I am not the only one to lose and break phones! Let’s brighten things up today with a giveaway!

For the past 6 months or so, I’ve been using coconut oil for just about anything and everything! It has so many health benefits and can be used not just for food, but for your skin and hair too! I was very excited when Tropical Traditions offered to send me their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil to try out.

Here is a video made by Tropical Traditions entitled, “How We Discovered Virgin Coconut Oil – An Interview with Brian Shilhavy, CEO Tropical Traditions”

About the Virgin Coconut Oil: (source)

This Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is a truly unrefined coconut oil.This coconut oil is made on Mt. Banahaw and surrounding areas from organic coconuts. Coconuts are used fresh (within 24-48 hours of harvest) from small family farms on Mt. Banahaw and other rural places in Quezon Province, the coconut capital of the Philippines. Only the highest quality coconutsare hand-picked from each harvest. The volcanic soil of Mt. Banahaw makes these organic coconuts some of the most nutritionally rich coconuts in the world!

Testing done in independent laboratories reveals higher levels of phenolic antioxidants than other coconut oils. The fresh coconut meat is shredded (wet milled), and then cold-pressed using the water from inside the coconuts to make coconut milk. The milk is then allowed to sit for about half a day, while the oil naturally separates from the heavier water. The oil is then filtered from the curds (coconut solids). No chemical or high-heat treatment is used, and this oil contains no trans fatty acids. We do NOT mass produce this oil. It is made by families who are coconut farmers using old-fashioned traditional methods that have been used in the Philippines for hundreds of years. Our coconut trees and family producers are certified organic according to strict USDA standards. The families who produce the oil are also trained according to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards and re-certified each year. This high-grade Virgin Coconut Oil has a long shelf life due to the high antioxidant properties. The Gold Label standard is our highest standard for Virgin Coconut Oil.

I personally like using  coconut oil to cook with because it can be heated at high temperatures unlike extra virgin olive oil. According to the Tropical Traditions website:

As a cooking oil, its chemical structure is kept in tact and therefore is resistant to mutations of fatty acid chains even when used in higher cooking temperatures, unlike most vegetable oils. Research shows that the medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil boosts the body’s metabolism, raises body temperatures, and helps provide greater energy which can lead to weight loss.

Last night I used it to cook my broccoli and mushrooms.

I added some cumin and pepper for a little extra spice. The vegetables had a wonderful flavor with lots of added health benefits!

They made the perfect side dish for my Amy’s Burrito! Great dinner!

I also enjoyed using the coconut oil in smoothies!

This one contained coconut oil, almond milk, frozen berries, maca powder, spirulina, and goji berries. Talk about a morning energy boost! Here are some other Coconut Oil Recipes from their website.

Before we start the giveaway, I want to offer all of you the free Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil Book: “How it has changed people’s lives, and how it can change yours”

When you place your first online order, just head here and choose “Referred by a Friend.” Enter the User ID: 5611802 and the book will be automatically added to your order!

GIVEAWAY!

One lucky reader will win their own quart of Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil!

There are 5 ways to enter:

1) Leave me a comment telling me how you would use the coconut oil.

2) Follow Tropical Traditions on Twitter (@Troptraditions).

3) Tweet this giveaway. “@MissyMaintains is giving away a quart of @Troptraditions Virgin Coconut Oil! Enter here: http://bit.ly/d5wy4d”

4) Become a fan of Tropical Traditions on Facebook.

5) Become a fan of MissyMaintains on Facebook. If you already are, announce the giveaway on your Facebook profile.

I will choose a winner this Friday, July 30th at 9:00 am. Good Luck!

Related posts:

1. Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Winner!
2. Horizon Organic Chocolate Milk Giveaway!
3. Kenzoil Giveaway!

About a month ago, a company called Omron contacted me because they just launched a new line of pedometers and pace/ distance trackers. They invited me to try out the product of my choice along with an eight-week training kit. I was also invited to join TeamGoSmart.com, an online community to network with other people who are looking for motivation to get moving. I decided to go with the pace/distance tracker because my first 3-mile race was 2 weeks later and I thought it would be helpful for my practice runs. As soon as I signed up, Omron sent me an awesome package which contained a water bottle, ear buds, a t-shirt, and the pace/distance tracker.

As soon as I received my kit, I joined the TeamGoSmart Online Community and made an account on ActiveTrainer.com. The community is a great place to support other people who are training to walk or run the 5K. There were message boards to post any running stories or questions about the training plans. It was fun to read other people’s struggles and successes!

The ActiveTrainer website showed me my plan and the exact workouts I was scheduled to run every day. I received a daily reminder email as well telling me my planned run for the day. One day it would tell me to do a  20 minute easy run and the next day it would tell me that it was my rest day. The e-mails looked like this:

I could then click on the workout details and it would bring me to the ActiveTrainer website. The website showed me an exact run like the one below:

Instructions:
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:

• Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
• Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes)
• Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
• Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
• Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)

I loved these daily reminders because they were a great motivational tool and scheduled all of my workouts for me! I did not follow the plan exactly because this was an 8-week training program for a 5K and I had a 3-mile run 2 weeks after I received the kit. Too bad I did not receive it earlier! It was definitely helpful for my practice runs before the race. If I ever decide to run another race, I will definitely follow the exact schedule next time!

The ActiveTrainer website was a great place to track my workouts. I was able to log my runs along with other forms of exercise like spinning and Core Fusion! I was able to input my activity, intensity, distance, duration, and pace. I was even able to upload my heart rate directly from my pace/distance tracker! The website also had a place to input sleep quality, soreness, fatigue, stress, well being, and more! There were helpful tools to calculate my BMI, body fat, body mass and to create running routes. It was pretty much anything I would every want or need to track my workouts and runs.

The Omron Gosmart Pace & Distance tracker was very easy to use. It tracked my pace, distance, calories burned and workout time. It clipped onto my shorts and never felt like it was going to fall off.

These were the results from one of my walk/runs. I walked to and from a park which was 1 mile each way. I jogged the entire 2.3 mile track so the device seemed to be pretty accurate. I wore the tracker during my 3-mile race and it was a little off but still gave me a nice idea of how far I went. I don’t have any more races planned as of now but I will continue to use it during any joy runs I go on. It is perfect for someone who can’t afford a fancy Garmin but still wants to know how far they ran!

How would you like to win your very own Omron Pace & Distance Tracker??

One luck reader will win an Omron Gosmart Pace/Distance Tracker, an Omron t-shirt, an Omron water bottle, and ear buds!

How to enter:

1) Leave me a comment telling me why you think you deserve to win the pace/distance tracker.

2) Tweet this giveaway. “@MissyMaintains is giving away an @OmronGOsmart Pace/Distance Tracker! Enter here: http://bit.ly/dC83uX”

3) “Like” MissyMaintains on Facebook. If you already like me, announce the giveaway on your Facebook page and let me know below.

I will choose a winner this Friday, July 16th. Good Luck!!

Related posts:

1. My First Race!
2. Teather Snacks Review and Giveaway!
3. EasyLunchBoxes Giveaway!

Yesterday I received a bag of chips to try from Michael Season’s. All of their snacks are gluten free, wheat free, and all natural. They just came out with a new Mediterranean flavor.

About: (source)

Michael Season’s captures the flavors of the Mediterranean! We start with select potatoes and add a combination of garlic, onion, oregano, rosemary & basil. Take pleasure in our all natural potato chips!

I couldn’t wait to dig in!

The nutrition facts are pretty good. One serving is just 140 calories and they contain no preservatives or hydrogenated oils.

I really enjoyed the chips! They were thin and crispy and had a ton of flavor.

They mostly tasted like garlic and onion but the flavor was not too over empowering. I liked that the texture was similar to regular chips and not like cardboard. I would definitely purchase these again!

Giveaway!

One reader will win a reusable tote, a chip-clip and a bag of Michael Season’s Mediterranean chips!

There are 2 ways to enter:

1) Leave me a comment telling me your favorite kind of chips!

2) Tweet this giveaway. “@MissyMaintains is giving away Michael Season’s Mediterranean Chips! Enter here : http://bit.ly/aRVolP”

I will choose a winner next Tuesday, July 13th! Good Luck!

Related posts:

1. Michael Season’s Mediterranean Chip Winner!
2. Michael Season’s Giveaway!!
3. Michael Season’s Giveaway!

Happy Friday and almost long weekend! It is a half day for me which is nice since I’ve been up since 4:30 in the morning! I am actually not that tired because I got in bed by 9:30 and fell asleep by 10:00. It could be the 2 iced coffees I’ve already consumed too. Who knows? 

It was the first day of my intenSati challenge so I had to be at Equinox by 6:00 in the morning. Mariand I were texting each other at 4:45 this morning. We felt insane. Waking up that early was completely worthit. The class was amazing as always! I really love it so much. I’m not sure yet if I am allowed to do the challenge because I got an email at 12:15 am saying that I can’t do the challenge twice. Way to accept me a week ago and then tell me I can’t do it 4 hours before I am about to wake up for class! I’ll find out next time I go but it will really suck since I put my gym membership on hold. Anyway, I am in love with the class so I reallllly hope they let me continue.

I decided to do a little giveaway today since it is a holiday weekend and everything. The folks over at Febreze sent me their new Home Collection to try out through MyBlogSpark.

About Febreze Home Collection: (source)

Say goodbye to spilled potpourri and candle wax. The Febreze Home Collection wants to introduce you to their no mess, no spill line-up that’s perfect for creating a refreshing atmosphere.

The newest addition to the Febreze Home Collection, the No-Spill Wood Diffuser, combines everything you love about WoodWick diffuser technology and Febreze scents, offering a unique fragrance experience. The scented oil is drawn up through the dowel into the wood top, creating a hassle-free way to freshen your home.

If you’re looking to add character to your décor, then the Febreze Flameless Luminary is for you! The Febreze FlamelessLuminaryhas interchangeable shade styles and the refreshing atmosphere of a burning candle without the danger of a flame. For a limited time, you can fill your home with the newest scent, Honeysuckle Orchid.

I loved the pretty package it came in! There were 4 parts to the package:

• Cherry Blossom Whimsy Flameless Luminary Starter Kit
• Willow Blossom Scented Shades
• Cranberry Pear Scented Shades
• No Spill Wood Diffuser

I tried out the Wood Diffuser in my bedroom.

With Febreze No Spill Wood Diffuser, scented oils are drawn up through the wood dowel into the wood top to fragrance your home without spills. It made my room smell fresh and was extremely easy to put together!

I also tried the Cherry Blossom Whimsy Flameless Luminary Starter Kit. Not only does it smell great, it lights up! The little things that excite me…

Now my bathroom looks pretty and smells lovely!

Giveaway!

MyBlogSpark provided me with a $15.00 Walmart gift card to giveaway to one of you so you can purchase your own Febreze Home Collection!

To Enter:

Just leave me a comment telling me what your 4th of July plans are! I will choose a winner on Tuesday, July 6th. Have a great holiday!

Related posts:

1. $50 Safeway Gift Card Giveaway!
2. Yoplait Light Gift Pack Giveaway!
3. Musselman’s Holiday Gift Pack Giveaway!

Hey everyone! Hope you had a nice weekend! Lots of partying for me! I was planning on doing a recap today but I have a ton of pictures to sort through and not enough time! I will start the week with a fun giveaway instead! Culturelle contacted me a few days ago and offered to giveaway some really cute shirts to my readers!

Some information about Culturelle:

Culturelle® is the only probiotic dietary supplement containing
Lactobacillus GG, the ³good² bacteria strain used to restore and maintain a
healthy balance in the digestive system.

Culturelle® is all-natural, and does not contain any wheat or gluten. There
are trace amounts of dairy proteins (less than 15 ppm in each capsule), but
it is also available in a dairy-free formula.

Culturelle® Products are as follows: Natural Health and Wellness 30-count,
Culturelle for Kids, Digestive Health 30-count and Dairy-Free Natural Health
and Wellness -30 count

Culturelle is the most researched and clinically proven probiotic supplement
on the market. Lactobacillus GG, which is only found in supplement form in
Culturelle, is the subject of more than 450 clinical reports and studies,
making it the mostly widely researched strain of probiotic in the world
proving its safety and efficacy.

Culturelle works to help promote overall digestive and immune health.
Diet, stress, travel and even some medications encourage bad bacteria to
flourish in your intestinal tract. When bad bacteria outnumber good
bacteria, your digestive and overall health is open to a host of potential
concerns. Culturelle, with Lactobacillus GG, safely and naturally replaces
the bad bacteria in your digestive tract with good bacteria leading to
healthier digestion and a stronger immune system.

Unlike most-probiotic-fortified foods, Culturelle gets to where health
benefits are needed the most! The Lactobacillus GG found in Culturelle is
one of the few probiotics that survives the strong acids of the stomach and
intestines and then has the ability to colonize the intestinal tract (where
70% of the immune system resides).

Not all probiotic supplements are created equal. The amount of live
bacteria listed on many probiotic labels is often the number of bacteria at
the time of manufacture, not use. Culturelle, however is manufactured with
at least 30 billion live cells with at least 10 billion guaranteed at time
of usage. This is about 10 times the amount of probiotic bacteria found in
many yogurts (and without the additional sugar or calories).

Fun Links!

http://bacteriahero.com
http://bacteriaisbeautiful.com/
http://www.facebook.com/culturelle.probiotic
http://twitter.com/culturelle

Coupon Links!

http://culturelle.com/coupon
http://culturelle.com/bacteriaisbeautiful
http://culturelle.com/tell_a_friend

Giveaway!

2 MissyMaintains readers will win one of these adorable shirts:

How to enter:

Leave me comment telling me one thing you learned about Culturelle from this post.

Extra Entries:

1) Tweet this giveaway.

2) Link back to this giveaway on your blog.

3) “Like” MissyMaintains on Facebook.

I will choose a winner this Wednesday, June 23rd!

Related posts:

1. Culturelle T-shirt Winners!
2. GoodBelly!
3. Attune Foods Review!

It’s Tuesday a.k.a giveaway day! I had the opportunity to try out a new frozen entree from Wanchai Ferry and MyBlogSpark.

Ever crave Chinese food from your favorite restaurant but don’t feel like going out to eat? (source)

Wanchai Ferry frozen entrées are perfect to have on hand for those nights you’re in the mood for Asian cuisine, but would rather enjoy it with a relaxing night in. Available in the freezer section of your local grocery store, Wanchai Ferry frozen entrées come complete with everything you need to make a restaurant quality meal in the comfort of your own home.

The newest Wanchai Ferry flavor, Beef & Broccoli, is the first beef dish in their line of great-tasting, complete Chinese meals for two. Ready to serve in only 14 minutes, Wanchai Ferry Beef & Broccoli comes with tender beef strips, and an assortment of Asian-style vegetables, including broccoli florets, red peppers and water chestnuts. It even includes rice and a rich brown sauce accented with soy and garlic for an authentic flavor experience.

Be sure to try the two additional new flavors of Wanchai Ferry frozen entrées, Kung Pao Chicken and Szechuan Style Chicken, which will soon join five other delicious varieties including Orange Chicken, Shrimp Lo Mein, Spicy Garlic Chicken and Sweet & Sour Chicken. Additionally, all of the entrées have no added MSG!

There is a $1.60 off coupon available here if you are interested in purchasing a Wanchai Ferry frozen entree.  

I made this for dinner a few nights ago. One bag serves two so I made sure to just make half the bag.

I like that the meal is very high in protein but like most frozen entrees, the sodium content is off the charts! 1320 mg for just half the bag?? No thanks! I am not very crazy about the ingredients either.

That list is just way too long for me. Too many chemicals too! On a positive note, the meal was very easy to make. I poured half of the bag in a skillet with some Pam.  I added 1/3 cup of water.

The meal came with Jasmine rice and a brown sauce.

I decided to skip the white rice and serve the meal over a salad instead. I let the beef and veggies cook for about 6 minutes and then poured about 1/2 of the packet of sauce in the skillet.

I let it cook for another 2 minutes until it looked ready. I made a nice big salad with some popchips and hummus on the side. I wanted something fun to munch on.

The beef was actually very good. It was juicy and the sauce was very flavorful. Of course anything with 1320 mg of sodium is going to have flavor though!

Daisy went for the hummus instead of the beef!

Overall I liked how easy the meal was to make and how good it tasted. I don’t think I’d purchase it in the future because of the ingredient list but it definitely was a convenient and enjoyable dinner.

MyBlogSpark also sent me two green tea sets which I will be giving away as well. I’m not quite sure how to make them so any tips are greatly appreciated!

Giveaway Time!

One lucky reader will receive one VIP coupon for a free Wanchai Ferry frozen entree and two tea sets!

How to enter:

1) Leave me a comment telling me if you eat frozen entrees and what your favorite kind is.

2) Tweet this giveaway. “Win 2 tea sets and a Wanchai Ferry frozen entree VIP coupon from @MissyMaintains! Enter here: http://bit.ly/b1YTjZ”

3) “Like” MissyMaintains on Facebook and let me know below. If you already do, suggest to 5 friends.

4) Link back to this giveaway on your blog and send me a link below.

5) Sign up for my health coaching newsletter:

I will choose the winner this Friday, June 18th. G0od Luck!

Related posts:

1. End of the Week Reflections and a Winner
2. Namaste Foods Review and Giveaway!
3. Progresso Panko Gift Pack Giveaway!

Hello! Today I am giving away another amazing workout DVD called Exhale: Core Fusion – Pilates Plus

I won this DVD from Exhale Spa’s Buddha Camp challenge. Since I went to Core Fusion 3 times a week during the 2 months of the challenge, I won a gift bag which included the DVD. Of course I already own that DVD so I decided to give it away to one of you!

About Core Fusion Pilates Plus: (source)

“Exhale’s Core Fusion will tone you from head to toe” –Prevention

A quarter of a million people have transformed their bodies at the exclusive Exhale Spa–now you can get these same results at home.

Named “Best Fusion Class” by New York magazine, this unique program is one of the quickest, most effective ways to get a thin, sleek physique. In five segments of 10 minutes each, the Pilates-based moves deliver washboard abs, perfectly sculpted arms and shoulders, and a tighter, higher backside—fast.

The secret to Core Fusion Pilates Plus is that it works from the inside out, integrating your core with every move. The deep-toning approach goes far beyond the surface muscles, working hard-to-reach areas that traditional exercises can’t reach. Infused with yoga-inspired postures and core-conditioning exercises, this invigorating workout produces real results and will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Core Fusion creators Fred DeVito and Elisabeth Halfpapp have over 50 years’ combined experience teaching Pilates, yoga, dance, and Tai Chi, disciplines that inform the Pilates Plus workout. They are founding team members of Exhale, a leading mind/body spa with locations around the country.

Want to win? Here’s how!

1) Leave me a comment telling me your favorite workout DVD and why.

2) Tweet this giveaway. “Win the #CoreFusion Pilates Plus DVD from @MissyMaintains! Enter here: http://bit.ly/cDKtPl”

3) Link back to this giveaway on your blog and send me the link below.

4) “Like” MissyMaintains on Facebook.

I will choose the winner this Friday, June 11th (my birthday!!!) Good luck!

Related posts:

1. Core Fusion Lean & Toned Review & Giveaway!
2. Core Fusion Cardio!
3. Core Fusion Energy Flow

By now you’ve all probably heard of shoes like Reebok Easy Tone and Skechers Shape-ups that are supposed to burn more calories with every step and tone your leg muscles while you walk. I’ve been very curious about both of them but just couldn’t get myself to buy a whole new pair of shoes. I was very excited when I discovered another option that is supposed to do the same thing. Instead of having to buy a whole new pair of shoes, I received insoles that I simply placed inside my shoes. They are made by a company called SmartSole.

SmartSoles Benefits:

How SmartSoles Work: (source)

SmartSole™ enables your foot to go through a gentle rolling motion enabling the heel, arch and then toe to touch the ground in sequence. Cushion, roll forward, and then roll off. Comfortably. Naturally, like you’re walking barefoot on sand. This optimal gait stimulates your metabolism, speeds up muscle regeneration and works to tone and tighten your legs and butt.

SmartSole features an integrated hard heel cup with a medical grade gel insert to catch shock forces and redistribute them more evenly. This forward rolling motion gets to the root of what causes fatigue, cellulite and varicose veins.

When do you wear your SmartSole™ insoles? Always! Slip your SmartSole™ into your everyday shoes or sneakers and experience the benefits. SmartSole™ enhances your daily activity, making sure you get the most out of every step. It couldn’t be easier!

I placed the SmartSoles in my sneakers because they were a bit too noticeable in my other shoes. They went right in without having to cut them up.

I wore them for about a week whenever I walked somewhere or went to the gym. I would probably have to wear them for a longer period of time to notice significant changes but I really did feel a difference while walking. They added a spring to my step and made my calves and legs pretty sore after walking in them for a while. They were very comfortable and gave my shoes very nice cushioning too! I will report back in a month and see if I notice anything significant like a nicer butt lol. At just $29.99 a pair, they are a great option if you don’t want to buy $100 sneakers. You can purchase them here:

Giveaway!

The folks over at SmartSole offered to give a pair of the Exercise Insolses away to one lucky reader!

How to Enter:

1) Leave me a comment telling me why you want to try SmartSole Exercise Insoles.

2) Tweet this giveaway. “Win Smartsole Exercise Insoles @MissyMaintains! Enter here: http://bit.ly/cOniTX”

3) Link back to this giveaway on your blog and let me know below.

I will choose a winner this Friday, June 4th. Good Luck!

Related posts:

1. Horizon Organic Chocolate Milk Giveaway!
2. EatSmart Bathroom Scale Giveaway!
3. Thriv Performance Crew Shirt Giveaway!

I’m sure you all know my love for Core Fusion by now. I’ve been taking classes at Exhale Spa for several months now. I was really starting to notice some results. I felt stronger after every class and even noticed some nice leg muscles in pictures! Unfortunately the price of a membership is way too expensive for me and I ran out of classes. I’ve been sitting back and waiting for the classes to go on sale at RueLaLa again but who knows when that will be. I obviously do not want to stop Core Fusion completely and lose my results. I’ve been in search of a different option to continue the classes. I do have a few of the Core Fusion DVDs: Exhale: Core Fusion Body Sculpt and Exhale: Core Fusion – Pilates Plus. Both of these DVDs are great workouts but I just never have any motivation to do them.  I wanted the feeling I got after a live class. I was very excited when I heard a few months ago that they would be coming out with a DVD very similar to a  live class! I got my hands on the DVD about a month before it came out in stores.  The DVD is called Exhale Core Fusion: Lean & Toned.

About Exhale Core Fusion: Lean & Toned:

Lengthen, strengthen, and transform your physique with Core Fusion Lean & Toned. This program targets all the major muscle groups in five 10-minute segments, each focused on a different part of the body. You can tailor your practice to time constraints, or do them all together for an invigorating total-body workout.

Bringing the mind/body spa experience home, Elisabeth and Fred teach Lean & Toned like one of exhale’s nationally renowned Core Fusion classes. Subtle but intense moves increase your heart rate, helping you burn calories and lose weight as you tone. Soon you’ll have flat abs, firm glutes, chiseled arms, and slender legs. And since the unique Core Fusion approach mixes stretching and sculpting moves, your newly defined muscles will be long and lean. Reshape your body, and enjoy the workout the celebs are raving about! Includes 5 min. bonus stretch.

Husband and wife team and Core Fusion co-creators Fred DeVito and Elisabeth Halfpapp have over 50 years of combined experience teaching Pilates, Lotte Berk Method, yoga, and dance–disciplines that comprise the Lean & Toned workout. They are founding team members of exhale, a leading mind/body spa with locations in the U.S. and the Caribbean.

It was very exciting to watch the video because Fred, Elizabeth, and the 3 other instructors in the video are all my instructors in real life! The DVD offers the following workout options:

PLAY ALL
*Play All Without Introductions
PICK A SEGMENT
*Upper Body Tone & Stretch (9.5 minutes)
*Thighs Tone & Stretch (9 minutes)
*Flat/Round Back Tone & Stretch (9 minutes)
*Gluteal Tone & Stretch (9 minutes)
*Pretzel Core Toner (10.5 minutes)
*Bonus: Stretch (7 minutes)

The first time I only did the Upper Body and Thigh Tone section but the other day I did the entire DVD at once. The DVD starts with the same warm up we do in class (knee raises). It then moves onto planks, push-ups, and triceps on the ground. This was all pretty challenging for me but maybe a little longer in a real class. Next comes arm exercises using weights. I remembered from the first time I did the DVD that the arm workout is actually very short. The first time I used 3 pounds but the second time I was able to use 5 pound weights. I was pretty disappointed with arms. It is much more challenging in class to the point where my arms are burning and I can’t even lift the 3 pound weights by the end. There was a long arm stretch after which I felt was way too long for the short amount of arm exercises. I know stretching is important but I would rather do 80% arm work and 20% arm stretching. This was more like 50/50.

During Thighs Tone and Stretch, the DVD instructs you to use a chair as the barre. I used the top of my TV instead because my chair is a rolly chair and I thought I would fall over.There were 3 portions of thighs such as leg lifts, lunges, and standing in a V while moving up and down. I enjoyed thighs. It burned but not quite as much as in an actual Core Fusion class.

Next was flat and round back for abs. In class, gluteal is always after thighs so I was a little confused. I had some trouble with flat back against the wall because I don’t really have an open wall in my room where I can see the TV. Next time I will move some furniture. I did it against my couch and did the best I could. I had an easier time with round back and really felt this one in my abs. I always enjoy this section of class since I can hold my legs up in the air.

Gluteal was pretty similar to a real class. It involved holding the chair (or TV in my case) and doing leg lifts. Pretzel Core Toner was pretty hard as well. I’ve never experienced pretzel mixed with abs so it was a nice little surprise. The C-curve lasted pretty long but 5 minutes in that position always seems like a decade to me! I had one little issue with C-curve….

Daisy decided she wanted to me lovable and take a nap on my belly! I was fine with stopping abs a bit early because I honestly hate C-curve! I just really suck at it. I would rather cuddle with my kitty The DVD ended with a nice bonus stretch which included butterfly and stretching the legs against the wall.

I think this DVD is a great option for people who don’t have access to the live classes. It is an amazing workout and will give you a nice idea of what a live class is like.  I have trouble doing long DVDs at home because I get distracted easily but I could see myself turning this on and doing one or two segments at a time.

Want to win your very own copy of this DVD?

The awesome people at Acacia, the company that produces all Core Fusion DVDs, is offering to giveaway not one, but THREE copies of this DVD!

How to Enter:

1) Leave me a comment telling me why you want to try this DVD.

2) Tweet this giveaway! Write: “@MissyMaintains is giving away 3 copies of #CoreFusion Lean & Toned DVD! Enter here: http://bit.ly/9wWnFx

3) “Like” the Missy Maintains Facebook Page. If you already do, suggest to 5 friends and let me know below.

4) Link back to this contest on your blog. Comment with the link below.

I will choose 3 winners this Friday, May 28th at 10:00 am.
*Giveaway open to US residents only*
Good Luck!

Related posts:

1. Core Fusion Lean & Toned DVD Winners!
2. Core Fusion Pilates Plus Giveaway!
3. Core Fusion Cardio!

A few months ago I attended the Fitbloggin’ conference and got to take home a cute shirt made by a company called thriv.

Thriv shirts are composed of bamboo for performance and luxury, organic cotton for additional sustainability, and elastane for stretch and support. I wore my shirt a few times on the elliptical to test it out.

The shirt was incredibly soft and comfortable! I usually do not like to wear short sleeve shirts during a sweat session but this was perfect at absorbing the sweat. It was not too tight and did not smell at all!

A little more information about thriv (from the website):

Core Benefits:

Stay comfortable, push harder

Flexible and Soft
flex-fiv performance fabric drapes like silk and feels like cashmere, making you feel as though you’re wearing nothing at all.

Lightweight and Breathable
flex-fiv performance fabric knit structure allows maximum air-flow and temperature regulation with minimum weight.

Dry Workouts
flex-fiv performance fabric naturally draws perspiration from the skin and wicks moisture to keep you dry.

UV Protection
flex-fiv performance fabric naturally protects you from the sun’s harmful rays and retains little heat.

No Stink
flex-fiv performance fabric naturally remains odor free.

Guess what? The awesome people at Thriv offered to give one of my readers a free thriv Performance Crew shirt!!

 (Ladies)

(Men’s)

PERFORMANCE CREW SHIRT DETAILS

Designed to be worn layered or solo, this flex-fiv crew sets the standard for performance and lightweight comfort. It features cropped sleeves and longer length for a hassle-free fit. Natural anti-odor fabric allows extended wearing capabilities. Gone are the days of rushing straight home from the gym to shed the stinky polyester.

• flex-fiv performance-weight fabric
• Anti-odor technology for extended wear
• UPF 50+ keeps you protected and keeps heat retention to a minimum
• Longer length
• Crew neck, cropped sleeves
• Fabric content: 50% viscose from Bamboo, 45% Organic Cotton, 5% Elastane
• Imported

How to Enter:

1) Leave me a comment telling me what you look for in a workout shirt.

2) Tweet this giveaway. “@MissyMaintains is giving away an @thrivnp Performance Crew shirt! Enter here: http://bit.ly/bPvbIS”

3) Become a fan of Thriv on Facebook.

4) Link back to this giveaway on your blog and let me know below!

***2 Bonus Entries: Take the The Lite Choice Survey. It ends in 3 days

I will choose a winner this Friday, May 7th. Good Luck!

Related posts:

1. Thriv Performance Crew Winner!
2. Culturelle T-shirt Winners!
3. SmartSole Exercise Insoles Giveaway!