100 LBS to Lose

Okay folks, I need your help here.  Accountability is the key and I am making myself accountable to all of y'all.  Now that is 254 people to keep me on my toes.  But I have a reward for you too for the help out.

Let me explain.  I have to lose 100 pounds.  And I am giving myself one year to get it done.  Yes, I am serious.  Here is my plan.  I have ordered a years supply of Cinch by Shaklee.  These are shake meal replacements.  And since I tend to just skip meals and then find myself starving at the end of the day, this will help me get my 3 meals a day.  I ordered vanilla, strawberry, chocolate and cafe latte.  Thus not worried about being bored with the flavors.  Each shake also has 24 grams of protein and 190 calories.  I also have the 3 in  Boost by Shaklee.  This is three supplements in one, for my metabolism, blood sugar and overall health.  Add in my filtered water and get back in my routine of daily exercise at Curves.  This seems to be the idea of how to get back on track.  But honestly I also need everyone here to help me out too.  Ask how I am doing, keep me going and do not let me get off with lame excuses. 

I also have Top Trainers from Healthy Fit Bodies to help me out.  This is a 10 DVD set that covers it all for the home workout program.  We have a DVD to help every area.  Ready for it?

• Cardio
• Thighs
• Core
• Abs
• Buns
• Yoga
• Ballet
• Pilates
• Latin Dance
• Plyometrics
• Interval Training
• Kickboxing

Now if that is not some list1  I am looking forward to the Shed Five Fast as a 30 minute workout.  There is also Yogini which is a blend of yoga and pilates for body-sculpting.  I wonder if I can get through the 6 minute Quick Blast for cardio and deep toning.  Eventually I hope to be able to do the kick boxing.  But my knees may not make that.  Dear Hubby will not mind me adding in the Latin Dancing and moving my curves for him too!  All of this includes a fitness guide, wall calendar and a free month with ediets.com too. 

I am serious enough to even give you my weight right now.  Yeah, we know a lady never tells her age or weight.  But at 265 pounds I am killing myself.  My start date is August 1st, 2011.  That gives me til Monday to get everything in gear.

Now here comes the good part for you.  I am going to give away 2 books to one of my readers.  The first is Sloan Barnett of former NBC's Today Show (and wife to Roger Barnett the CEO of Shaklee).  I have my AUTOGRAPHED copy of Green goes with Everything by Sloan Barnett.  This gives you her background as to why Green is so important.  As well as simple steps to living a healthier life.    And I also have The Gorgeously Green Diet by Sophie Uliano.  Here we have nearly 100 recipes, exercises and ways to save money and stay Green.  These are two of my books that I am willing to share in this giveaway.  They are valued at $45.90 as a set. 

How to win?  Simple....first be one of my GFC friends (mandatory).  Second, leave me a comment with a tip to lose weight or stay on my diet or stick to my plan.  What ever advice you think will help me through this next year.  Make sure I have your email so I can notify you as a winner too.  Wish me luck....and please do not give up on me!  BTW, these are my books and my plan.  This is NOT a sponsored post.  But Shaklee is helping me out by sending me the Cinch I have asked for.  They are good like that!  I also received the 10 DVDs from KMR Communications Inc.

Cool & Clean

Today I was able to get quite a bit of housework done.  Even though it was 104 in the house.  How?  Well a partnership actually.   My kiddie pool and Shaklee Corporation.

No they did not get me a kiddie pool.  But I did jump in and out of it all day long.  Getting soaked, cooled off and them back inside to clean for awhile.  Thankfully I did not have to 'bust a move' inside with the help from Shaklee products.  I first made up some cleaner for the counters and such.  I used the Basic H²® Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate. For all-purpose cleaning:  Add 1/4 tsp. to 16 oz. of water.  Ultraconcentrated – 16 ounces makes up to 48 gallons of super powerful cleaner when mixed with water. That is .21 cents a gallon for member cost.  For windows and mirrors:  Add 1-2 drops to 16 oz. of water.   1 bottle of Basic H2 equals the cleaning uses of 5,824 bottles of 26 oz. Windex®. That is less than .01 cent for a 16 oz bottle. Amazing!

Photo from Shaklee Corporation at http://www.shaklee.com/category.php?main_cat=homecare&sub_cat=GetCleanStarterKit&type=sub

Then I had to do the dishes including some nasty pots and pans.  Thankfully I used Scour Off™ Heavy Duty Paste to clean them up.  And oh does my arthritis joints jump for joy here.  No hard scrubbing to do.  Sure did make it an easy and quick job.  If you battle this disease then you understand how much a simple job as nasty pans can reduce you to tears.  I am so happy that my wrist are not screaming out in pain yet my pots and pans are shiny once again.

My last job was laundry.  It has piled up this week.  The heat is great for drying the clothes on the line.  In the time it takes to wash a load, the ones on the line are completely dried and almost feel like they have been ironed.  But I was out of the laundry soap that I make up.  So instead I used the Fresh Laundry Concentrate HE Compatible (Liquid).  It only takes an ounce to do a load.  That makes it only .40 cents a load.  Not bad there either.  And I loved the scent.  It was like the ocean breeze was blowing in.  I could feel the sun on my back from the open back door.  The water running in the washer.  And the scent from the Shaklee laundry soap.....made me sigh in relief.  I never thought that doing laundry would feel so nice.

Now that was quite a bit of housework to do today.  Between the trips to the pool, I had managed to get the kitchen floors pretty wet.  So I popped out my Libman Freedom Mop and did a quick job of it.  Yes, I did use the Basic H²® Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate in the mop too.  So versatile.  And I did not even slip or slide.

I am proud to have the house clean again.  And to have accomplished it in this heat.  But I know it would not have been possible without my kiddie pool and Shaklee.  I do wish to tell Shaklee thanks for providing the supplies.  They were a gift from my recent California Dreaming visit with them.  Oh and by the way....an extra bit of information.  All Shaklee products are always safe, always work and are always Green!

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Gift for A Special Youngster

Hannah and the Talking Tree by Elke Weiss is my picked for a Christmas gift to my BFF daughter.  We (my BFF) have been friends since we were 10 years old.  Yes, a very long time.  She has a adorable young daughter that sees life as an exploration.  I love that about her.  A toy is not just a toy, it is an expression of herself.  She paints beautiful pictures to put up in her hall gallery.  And being the eco lil self she is...each painting can be used on both sides of the paper.  

One of the things I love that my BFF has taught her daughter is to be ecologically minded.  We learned this when I was in junior high.  It was not being green or frugal or trendy.  It was told to us that we needed to learn to recycle and reuse to save our earth.  To just make it a way of life.  And we took it to heart.  Well my gift this year helps follow that process.  (Oh and I always give books to her daughter.)  Hannah and the Talking Tree is described as:  “This is a charming book for your youngsters about being different, learning to listen and the importance of saving the trees on our planet. It is a cute and colorful story about a little girl named Hannah who is different than others because of her big ears but those ears can hear things that most can not. Hannah learns how she should help save the trees and how to get others to help. This is an environmental story that your children will love to hear. The Dove "Family-Approved" seal for all ages is awarded to this wonderful children's book.”  It is also a GOLD MEDAL WINNER of the 2010 Moonbeam Children's Book Award.  I also like that it is printed on recycled paper.  This will make my BFF happy too!

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of this book to facilitate this review. No other compensation was provided.

Going Green or Going Crazy?

What are you doing to help with the environment?  I mean, we are all going green aren't we?  Not only is it the smart thing to do it is now the in thing to do.  But, I remember learning about this way back in the cave man days of elementary school.  Of course then it was learning about biodegradable products and how they helped the earth.  We were being ecological consumers.  Now we are eco-friendly!

Well I am still looking on how to do things that work, are "green" and frugal all at the same time.  We have recycled paper for the litter box and note pads.  Even the newspaper is used for finger painting projects.  Cans are saved to recycle.  That fund helps a friend of mine with her tithes for mission work.  Heck we even do leftover stew.  Boxes are reused for storage and trash containers.  Bags go in the trash cans as liners.

I am now adding plant based dish soap and laundry soap.  They are chemical free and fragrance free too.  No more irritating my skin with perfumes.  Of course I hang my laundry outside and air dry my dishes too.  I do like my newest additions.  Since I was dishes all day long.  Yeah, I do...OCD!  If I have a dirty dish I automatically place some soap on my sponge and wash the dish before placing it in the drainer.  Dirty laundry goes right into the washer.  Since we wash only with cold water now (green thing again) I am not worried about colors mixing up.  When the washer is full, I add my great  EcoStore non-toxic soap and start the load. Easy Peasy! 

So?  What green thing are you doing?  Have you changed products you used before?  Has it become an obsession or just a new habit?  Do you think the lil bit each of us can do really makes a difference? 
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary product to facilitate this review. No other compensation was provided.

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1.03.01

Green Winners

Staying Green All Year Long

Winners one and all!

Ladies here y'all go!

I will be sending out notices today. Get your addresses and your very own copy of The Green Year will be in the mail to you.

Thanks for entering.

Bobbi Janay @When did I go from a kid to a grown up? said...

I love the idea of this book.

Prairiemaid said...

My "green tip".....turn the lights off! And I only say about a hundred times a day!

I'm another SSS'er and just visiting the different blogs. Yours is really neat!

PJ said...

Hey Kiddo! Hope you enjoyed your trip. Of Course, you know my idea of being green. Collect aluminum cans, sell them, give the money to a good cause. It's really a complex idea, because not only are you helping to "clean up the environment, but the money you get can help any "charity" you want. Mine happens to be Foreign Missionaries. It is also a great thing to get your kids involved in, because it's not difficult, and it teaches them responsibility, and how to give to others. So many kids now days have the "ME" frame of mind. This would help them feel better about themselves knowing that they have helped others. You could even give them the responsiblity of choosing the "charity or cause" the money would go to as long as it is for a needful cause, you know what I mean. Something that would really help others. Anyway, that's my green idea. Clean environment, help your kids self-esteem and teach them, and be a blessing to others in need.

As far as my post, I dare not think about if anything were to happen to or between my hubby and myself, instead of becoming a "cat lady" with way too many cats, I would probably do the same thing with dogs from the shelter. (Except for certain kinds that scare me to death). Glad your home safe!

PJ

Bombtastic Belle said...

My green tip is to turn lights off, turn the AC up when you can or off and have the windows open.
eod_army_wife04(at)yahoo(dot)com

pippirose said...

My green tip: hanging at least a few of the heavier wet stuff (like sweatshirts) on the shower rod, instead of putting them in the dryer.
I live in an apartment, so space is an issue, but not only does this save some dryer time...it also saves the sweatshirts and sweaters from shrinking!
:o)

Reader's Digest Helper

My dad here in town has a subscription to Reader's Digest. And his "green" thing is to recycle them by passing them on to me. Of course I love that! This month has a great section on many ways to save using the Internet. Follow the link in the title and you too can find some new ways to help your budget. I do not know any one's budget that is not straining during this election year. I feel that being more "green" is also a way to help one's budget. So how are you green? Are you green and not even aware. It is so easy in many ways as green and frugal go hand in hand. So I am sharing my "green" list. See how many you do. I bet you can bet me! Tell me how your frugal/green.

I mulch and reuse my yard waste as compost.

I wait until my washing machine is completely full and then I wash in cold water.

I refill my hand soap dispensers with economic smaller refill bottles instead of buying new dispensers.

I have a tap filtering pitcher for drinking tap water instead of buying bottled water for my home and refill a safe bottle for my hubby to take to work.

I use a travel mug for drinking and refill it at stores instead of using disposable cups or can and bottled soda.

I use canvas bags for shopping and all other kinds of things too.

I bath my dogs after my bath in my bathwater (minus me in it). One dog per bath that I have. lol

I do not use chemicals on my lawn or in the garden.

I keep my windows open to use sunshine for light instead of electricity. Also promotes good mental health.

I use cloth napkins instead of paper towels.

I open windows instead of turning on the air conditioning when is not 100+ temps of course.

I reuse my coffee grounds for plant food. Helps them stay perky--guess they also like the caffeine.

I wear used clothing and donate back to used clothing closet.

I recycle paper, cans and plastic.

In public restrooms, I dry my hands naturally by using only time.

I carry a mug for drinks I buy to go.

I give volunteer time to green non-profits.

I eat one locally sourced meal a week.

I own shop at garage sales.

I do not shop except for essentials.

I also try to share as much as possible of what I have that I do not need with others.