Hello May! It was nice to finally see some sun this weekend! I usually start off the month with a goal check-in but I did not set any specific goals in April. I would like to follow up on my post about getting back on track and let you know how I’ve been doing with the healthy eating.

I really started to focus on eating more protein and vegetables right around when Passover started (April 18). I did not eat bread products the entire week and was actually down 5 pounds by the end of the next weekend. I felt great and really felt in control of my food choices for the first time in a while. It was definitely a challenge, especially since my roommate broke one of our biggest rules for the apartment: All cereal must be left in her bedroom. I don’t buy cereal because once I start, I end up having about four bowls of it. Jackie knows that it is a trigger food for me so she is usually great about keeping it out of the kitchen. For some reason, there was a box of crack in my food cabinet the entire weekend!

Jackie was out of town so I could not put the box in her room. I decided to leave it there as a test to see how much willpower I really had. I resisted the cereal all weekend until Sunday night at 9pm. I ended up breaking Passover a few days early and finishing off the box in two days. Okay, so maybe I am not ready to have cereal around, especially after not eating carbs for a whole week. Of course, this whole situation got me frustrated with myself and caused me to fall off track for the next couple of days. On Monday night, I finished off the only other snack she left in the cabinet which was taunting me all weekend:

I really wish Jackie was one of those roommates that would freak out every time I ate her food. She actually does not care at all but I still always buy her a new box of whatever I ate. This time, I told her to force me to buy her a new box, plus an extra food item. So far this consequence has worked, as I have not touched her new bag of Kettle Cooked chips or her two bags of chocolate chips from our chocolate covered strawberry incident!

Besides dealing with my roommate’s food at home, I’ve also been facing some challenges at work. A giant box of granola decided to arrive right smack in the middle of Passover!

I let the box sit there for a week but once I started trying all of the flavors, I could not stop! Love Grown Foods granola is on the healthier side (see below), but too much granola really adds up. The granola is:

• Free of Refined Sugar
• Free of High Fructose Corn Syrup
• Free of Trans Fats
• Free of Hydrogenated Oils
• Free of Artificial Flavors
• Free of Preservatives
• Free of Gluten
• Free of Genetically Modified Ingredients

I started adding the Sweet Cranberry Pecan to my oatmeal but it was too good to just eat one serving at a time!

The Apple Walnut Delight served as my afternoon snack almost every day last week.

Once I opened a bag of this stuff, I just kept going and going. The Cocoa Goodness is now in my coworker’s desk because I know the bag will be gone in a day once I open it! If you are looking for a delicious and healthy granola, I do recommend Love Grown Foods! Just be careful because it is super addicting!

Of course, everyone seemed to have a birthday last week at work!

I’m happy to say that I enjoyed half of a brownie and was satisfied.

More office treats that I walk by every single day….

I usually stick with the popchips and Kind Bars but it is tough to not take Milano cookies every day! While I did lose control at the end of Passover, I do feel back on track now. I got the little carb binge out of my system on Sunday and Monday and now feel like my diet is balanced out again. Yes, a no carb diet does make me lose weight super fast but, like most people, I get way too many cravings and ending up overeating later. I like bread. It is as simple as that!

I am not setting any goals again for May but I do have some excited things going on!

• I am running a 5K this Sunday! Jackie and I will both be in Philly for Mother’s Day so we decided to run the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I have absolutely no idea if I can run for 3 miles but I am going to try my best! We’ve been running together maybe once a week after work but never make it more than 2 miles. I think being in a race setting will help us to not stop and walk.
• I am starting the Organic Avenue 3-day juice cleanse on May 16! My intenSati instructor happened to read on my blog that I keep putting off starting the cleanse. She messaged me and told me that she had plans to start it on May 16 with 3 other Sati people and invited me to do it with them. Perfect! This will make it much easier for me to have a support system. No gum for 3 days….aaah!
• I have an orientation today that might lead me to teach intenSati on a regular basis. This is not definite so that is all I am saying!

Do you have any goals for the month of May?

It is time to announce the 3 winner of the O.N.E. Active Coconut Water giveaway!

69- Megan, “I love coconut oil for cooking and baking, and I’ve always wanted to try coconut milk1

14- Julie, “I love chocolate macaroons, which are made out of coconut shred then dipped in chocolate–yum!”

85- Amy Rouse, “Like ONE on FB”

Congrats to the winners! I will email you soon to get your contact information! If you did not win, stay tuned for a new coconut water giveaway coming soon!

Have a great day!

Related posts:

1. O.N.E Active Coconut Water Giveaway: 3 Winners!
2. Getting Back on Track
3. The Lite Choice Free Cup/Cone Winners!

When you hear the word vanilla, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? For me, it is vanilla ice cream topped with Oreos!! I know most people typically relate vanilla to cake, frozen yogurt, cookies, and maybe even body wash! But did you know this flavorful spice actually provides a variety of health benefits? Vanilla is known to curb your cravings, strengthen your skin and provide antioxidants. It has also long been regarded as an aphrodisiac! Kashi recently came out with vanilla-flavored products so that you can feel like you are indulging in a dessert while actually doing your body a favor. They recently sent me a few products from their vanilla-based line to try for myself!

They sent me Kashi TLC Cereal Bars and Kashi Whole Wheat Biscuits in Island Vanilla. The PR company for Kashi also sent me a drink called Calnaturale Svelte.

Kashi just came out with TLC Cherry Vanilla Cereal Bars but since they are so brand new, I got to try the Blackberry Graham Cereal Bars instead.

TLC Blackberry Graham Cereal Bars are sun-sweetened with blackberry and a touch of tang, combined with the delightful natural sweetness of honey-kissed graham. They contain 3 grams of fiber and are free from refined sugar and artificial ingredients. I loved how chewy and soft the bars were. They also made the perfect pre-workout snack!

The Kashi Whole Wheat Biscuits in Island Vanilla were my favorite of the three products I tried.

Kashi Whole Wheat Biscuits in Island Vanilla are baked with finely ground organic vanilla beans and provide a full day’s serving of whole grains. Whole Wheat Biscuits are high in fiber, low in fat and sodium free – making them yet another wholesome way to savor vanilla (source).

This cereal brought back some childhood memories for me since it tasted just like Frosted Mini Wheats! Love that cereal! I don’t buy much cereal anymore since I tend to eat 4 bowls at once but this was so filling that I was able to stop after one or two bowls. Loved it!

The folks from Kashi sent me a bonus product to try out called CalNaturale Svelte.

About (source):

CalNaturale Svelte provides you with the lasting nutrition and sustained energy you need for your active and busy day. Each rich, creamy flavor is created with 16g of organic protein from fresh organic soymilk, along with organic complex carbohydrates for sustained energy. Svelte is tested to be low-glycemic and has only 9 grams of sugar per full bottle. It’s also a good source of fiber and is dairy-free and gluten-free.

I really enjoyed the vanilla flavor and thick texture of this drink. It was really filling since it contains 16 grams of protein. The only reason I would not buy this drink again is because it is made from soymilk. Apparently I can’t handle so much soy at once because my tummy hated me after drinking this. I do recommend it if you do not have any soy allergies! It kind of tastes like a vanilla milkshake!

Kashi makes some other vanilla-based products like Kashi Go-Lean Truly Vanilla Hot Cereal.

I love this oatmeal. It is sweetened with real vanilla and contains 9 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber. It is super filling! I say the next time you are craving some vanilla ice cream (or want to increase your sexual desire), go for the Kashi!

What is your favorite way to enjoy vanilla?

What is your favorite Kashi product?

Have a nice, long weekend my friends! I am off to Core Fusion Cardio to sweat off my margaritas from last night! Xoxo!

Related posts:

1. Uncle Sam’s Cereal Giveaway!
2. Amazing Grass Giveaway!
3. Swanson Health $50 Gift Card Giveaway!

Hello friends. Have you entered my Fit in 5: Total Body Tone DVD Giveaway yet? I assure you all 5 workouts are great! I started my day off yesterday with the 20 minute strength section. I’ve been too tired this week to wake up super early for the gym but there is no reason I can’t wake up 20 minutes early! After my mini-workout, I refueledwith some Kashi Warm Cinnamon Oat cereal and raisins.

This might be my favorite new cereal. I definitely had more than just one bowl! That is always the case with cereal though!

For lunch, I had my monthly date at Sea Thai with Marina! The lunch special always comes with a free appetizer so I got my usual tofu salad with peanut dressing.

I got the Black Bean Ginger dish with Shrimp for my main course.

I loved this dish! It had chunks of grilled pineapple, mushroom, scallions, and carrots. Delicious lunch for a decent price! We will be back next month I’m sure.

I went to a great intenSati class after work. I did not go at all last week but went both Monday and Tuesday this week. Guess I was going through intenSati withdrawal! I got home and “cooked” dinner. Okay…not really but frozen pizza is still better than going out to eat and spending a million dollars!

I made an Amy’s margarita pizza with some Blue Moon to drink! Nothing better than pizza and beer after an intense workout!

In other news, I have a little giveaway for my New York readers today. Remember the “Live the Life You Love” event I went to last week? The next event is on October 12th. I already gave one ticket away but found out that I can give a second ticket away for that night! The topics for the night will be:

Carolyn Kelly North:”Dump the Slumps! Ways to Boost Your Mood when ‘Dating Fatigue’ Sets In”
Galia Gichon:”The Single Gal’s Guide to Money”
Kathryn Kaycoff-Manos and Lauri de Brito:”Fertility 101: Essential Tips for the Single Woman”

If you are interested in attending this session, just let me know in the comments section below. I will choose a ticket winner tomorrow.

1. What is your favorite kind of cereal right now?
2. Do you prefer exercise DVDs at home or working out in a gym?

1. My favorite cereal right now is the Kashi cereal above! I also love Puffins but can’t keep them in the house! The box disappears way too fast!
2. I prefer working out in the gym because I like having a teacher there to push me and correct my form.  I slack off sometimes when I am exercising at home or I just quit early. Luckily the 20 minute workouts from the Fit in 5:Total Body Tone DVD are perfect since there is not much time to quit early!

Related posts:

1. Pizza and Beer!
2. Kreativ Blogger Award and Lunch!
3. Macaroni Grill Winner, Blogger Core Fusion Class, Gobo Dinner!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend! I pretty much spent my entire weekend at Citifield! The Phillies were in town playing the Mets so of course I had to go and support my team. I did not plan on going to all 3 games! I actually did not even plan on going to 1 game! On Friday after work, I had every intention of going home and collapsing into bed. When I walked in the door, my roommate said, “Get your Phillies hat on. We are going to the game!” Okay! We got there and bought tickets from some dude on the street. They were pretty good seats!

I had a few of these and felt much better.

I got to visit my friend from college that works for the Mets. She handed us 2 tickets for the game on Saturday! Thanks Kaity! 

During the game, I snacked on a few peanuts but decided to wait until after to eat a real dinner. The Phillies won so we ended up at Friday’s to celebrate with half-priced drinks!

I got my usual Cosmo and Cobb salad.

Saturday

It was really nice out so we decided to get to the stadium early to watch batting practice. I just wanted to catch a ball or meet Chase Utley and Cole Hamels.  I had a bowl of Cheerios for breakfast.

I fueled up with a Vanilla Soy Latte before starting on more beer!

We got to watch them pratice for about an hour. I love this picture for obvious reasons.

I love this one even more…

One of the players threw me up a ball! I was also one of the only girls screaming for one.

Our original tickets were near the Mets dugout in the 15th row. After the first inning, my friend upgraded us to the 1st row above the Phillies dugout! Amazing!

I got to do some serious stalking.

I think I may have scared him a little. Every time he looked up, my camera was in his face. My friend text messaged me a picture of her TV during the game. We were on ESPN!!! I caught a 2nd ball during the game! A 3rd ball came my way and I jumped up for it but missed it. This older guy next to me started yelling at me asking why I would try to get another one if I already had one. I said, “Why wouldn’t I? I like balls.” He shut right up.

We left and got some Subway and called it a night.

Sunday

My friend called me at 9 in the morning and told me she had 2 more tickets for us! This time they were above the Phillies dugout but in the 2nd row! So exciting!

I think some of the players remembered us. We were the only Phillies fans both days sitting right above them. I got a wave and a nod! I got another ball too!

I ran into my neighbor that I grew up with at the end of the game. She lives in New York now too but is still a hardcore Phillies fan.

I went home and watched some of the recaps from the game. I found myself in a few videos! I am on the right in the pink hat.

Now I need to get my hands on full copies of the games. I’d say I got my 30 seconds of fame this weekend. Now I just need Chase Utley’s phone number and I’ll be satisfied.

In exercise news, tonight will be my first workout in about 2 weeks. Can’t wait! It is much needed after the amount of beer consumed at the game!

What type of workout do you have planned for today?

What was your favorite part of the weekend?

Related posts:

1. Sangria in the Summer
2. Mets vs. Phillies!
3. Shorty’s Philly Bar in New York!

Hello! Hope everyone is having a nice week so far. Today I am going to talk about a new cereal I got to try and offer you the chance to win your own box!The folks over at Attune Foods sent me a box of Uncle Sam’s Toasted Whole-Wheat Flakes & Flaxseed to review.

About Uncle Sam’s Toasted Whole-Wheat and Flaxseed (source):

If you are looking for a high fiber food try Uncle Sam Cereal. This high fiber cereal is a unique blend of toasted whole grain wheat flakes and flaxseed. Each bowl of this whole grain cereal is loaded with powerful, heart healthy ALA Omega-3′s from flaxseed and is high in dietary fiber. It is also a low sodium and low sugar cereal (with less than 1g sugars). Best of all, the toasted whole grain wheat flakes and flax seed stay crispy and crunchy from the first spoonful to the last.

Cereal is one of my favorite foods! I would eat it at every meal if I was able to stop at just one bowl! Unfortunately a lot of cereals out there are loaded with sugar and other chemicals. I was happy to see that this cereal has a nice and short ingredient list.

The cereal is very high in protein and fiber so it definitely filled me up more than other cereals.

The cereal tasted good for being so healthy! I added a few raisins and it was almost exactly like Raisin Bran but without all of the added sugar. It is a great way to get your daily intake of fiber.

Giveaway!

One reader will win a box of Uncle Sam’s cereal to try out!

To Enter:

1) Leave me a comment telling me how you would eat the cereal! (In a recipe? In oatmeal? Plain?)

2) Tweet this giveaway. “@MissyMaintains is giving away a box of Uncle Sam’s Cereal! Enter here: http://bit.ly/aWfIzn”

I will choose a winner this Friday, August 4th.

*This giveaway is open to U.S residents only.

Good Luck!

***Attention Rosette Edwards!*** You won my Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil giveaway. I will choose a new winner on Friday if you do not claim your prize by then.

Related posts:

1. Rudy’s Organic Bakery Review and Giveaway!
2. Giveaway Alert-Dave’s Killer Bread!
3. Michael Season’s Vs. Cape Cod Chips & Cereal Mix Up!