MealEnders Review & Giveaway

Almost as soon as I was accepted as a Sweat Pink Ambassador I signed up and was accepted into my first campaign!  I received one of each flavor of MealEnders for free in exchange for my honest review.

About MealEnders:
MealEnders Signaling Lozenges are a first-of-its-kind weight management tool designed to curb overeating and teach portion control using a combination of behavioral psychology and sensory science. Free of stimulants or other harmful “diet” ingredients, MealEnders catalyze behavioral change by retraining the mind to stop eating with the eyes.

MealEnders consist of two components: a sweet, outer reward layer and a cooling/tingling inner core. The outer layer provides a measured dose of “dessert” associated with the end of a meal, while the inner core engages the trigeminal nerve (the nerve that senses “taste”) with long-lasting cooling/tingling sensations that cleanse the palate.

Sucking on a lozenge when you know you’ve consumed enough — but can’t stop — keeps your mouth and mind occupied during the 20-minute Overeating Zone, giving your body’s natural satiety process time to catch up. MealEnders are an easy, safe and sustainable way to curb your appetite. Each Signaling Lozenge contains only 2 grams of sugar and 15 calories…and they taste great!

My favorite flavor

I was so excited that I tried the Chocolate Mint flavor the first night.  Once the chocolate was sucked away it was like BOOM MINT!  I'd used it as dessert that night so I couldn't tell if I was still hungry afterwards.

I brought the Citrus flavor with me to work the next day.  The key lime pie flavoring was good but I couldn't identify the citrus flavor once that was gone.  I don't know why but that bothered me.  I shared some with my coworkers.  The lady in the office next to me tried it first (which was surprising because she's not really into stuff like this).  Both of us identified that the MealEnders kind of numbed our tongues where it sat in our mouths which we assumed was part of the signaling process.

My least favorite flavor

Don't shoot me - I do NOT like anything coffee or mocha flavored.  I try and try different things but just don't like the taste.  The Mocha flavor was also brought to work to share with my coworkers.  I truly suffered through this one after the chocolate was gone.  I kept chugging my water throughout and afterwards but the taste would not go away.  I had to eat something else once it was gone to return my mouth to normal.  Now my coffee drinking coworkers loved this flavor so I gave one the rest of the bag.

I was sort of disappointed with the taste of the Cinnamon flavor as I had expected it to be more like the cinnamon candies.  The flavor was very mild.

Overall I couldn't tell if the MealEnders actually helped me to stop eating.  They were more of a filler, like when you've finished eating but are still just a little hungry and don't want to have another serving of dinner.  This is how I plan to finish out the rest of the 3 flavors I kept.

Here's your opportunity to win a bag of each flavor to try as I did!  If you don't want to wait you can purchase your MealEnders with a 20% discount using the FitHolidays20 code at checkout.

Entry-Form

After getting the bird in the oven I did P90X3 The Warrior.

I ate a white Thanksgiving dinner with a little pop of color.

Turkey, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, and Cauliflower & Peppers

FRIDAY I did Isometrix.

SATURDAY I did Agility X.

MONDAY I stretched with Dynamix.

TUESDAY I did Accelerator.

Because of our current bills (including my surgery back in September) I don't have the budget to be able to pay for the Group Exercise and Wellness Coach Specialty Certifications.  I haven't had any luck with finding a part time Wellness Coach position without any certification.  So I'm not sure how I'm going to pay for this yet.  If you have any ideas please let me know!

TODAY I ran through CVX again.

MONDAY:  Of course we had to jump for joy for Monday! Whether it’s snowing outside or not (who wouldn’t jump for joy for snow angels?!), show us what kind of ups you got!  I rarely jump because of my weak ankles.  They may be better since I've lost weight but I don't want to risk an injury.

TUESDAY:  I didn't do the HIIT workout they shared; mine is enough!

WEDNESDAY: Show us how you balance sweaty workouts, sweet treats, and savory snacks over the holidays! For me it all starts off with Austin's birthday cake.  I try not to eat it every day.

THURSDAY: Did you know 75% of your annual weight gain happens over the holidays? Get moving & stay fit during the Holidays! Show us how you get moving in thirty minutes!  Since that's the average length for my workouts it's easy to show.

FRIDAY: It’s Family Fitness Fun Friday! Grab a family member and enjoy a favorite activity! It can be: going for a walk with your Mom, taking the kids Roller Skating, Cross-country skiing with your significant other. Anything Goes, just have fun being active with your loved ones!  I'll have to see if I can get Austin involved in something this weekend....

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Happy Thanksgiving

The First Bird I Cooked - 2009

I have a busy night ahead of me.  Thanksgiving is tomorrow.  Austin's birthday is Saturday.  We have to pick up the turkey and everything for Austin tonight.  Why haven't I bought the turkey earlier?  Low funds and no room in the fridge!  Why haven't I bought Austin's cake or presents?  Low funds and he hasn't done a good job with telling me what he wants.

Last weekend Austin finally told me what he wanted.  For his present he wants a chemistry set something like this:

For the cake he wants the shape and/or design as the vault door on the Fallout 4 game.  No clue how I'm going to work the pattern into the cake.  I looked but didn't find any patterns/templates that I could use.

THURSDAY I did Kelly Coffey-Meyer's Lift in Full Throttle Olympic Lifting.

FRIDAY I did P90X3 Yoga X.

SATURDAY I did my first workout from Kiqplan that I won from The Yogi Movement's giveaway.  My phone was fighting me the whole time but I got in Slim & Trim Total Body 1.

MONDAY I did P90X3 Accelerator, modifying the modifier throughout most of the workout.

TUESDAY the Kiqplan app wouldn't load the schedule so I had no clue what workout I was supposed to do.  Instead I did P90X3 Total Synergistics.

This morning I tried the app again.  There was an update so I had my fingers crossed that I'd be able to get somewhere on Kiqplan.  Schedule loaded but again the sound wasn't there.  Without the beeps I don't know when to move to the next exercise or when it's time for a break.  I can't keep staring at my phone during my workout and expect proper performance.  Should I give them another shot or call it quits?  I ended up doing P90X3 CVX (weighted cardio).

Has anyone followed P90X3 following a 6 day schedule?

How do you keep fitness fun?  Variety is the spice of life!  You have to change things up to keep your mind and body interested in physical activity.

MONDAY show us your good time from a laugh post run, to a Zumba class, whatever helps you enjoy moving!  I can't grab a shot during the middle of a workout but OMG Tony has me chuckling every time!

TUESDAY show us your piled plate of freggies (fruits & veggies).  My freggies have been really sucky this week and I haven't been eating what I normally do.  Laziness perhaps?

WEDNESDAY show us how you stay hydrated. 
At home I have a liter bottle frozen and add water too it for my workout.

At work I'm using a Propel bottle from one of the Kroger Friday Freebies.

THURSDAY show us how you get your family active on Thanksgiving.  My family doesn't get active, just me.  After the turkey's in the oven I get in my scheduled workout.

FRIDAY How do you fit in activity throughout the day?

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Thanksgiving Aftermath

This frozen turkey weighed in last night with a 2 lb gain.  I didn't eat much on Thanksgiving....I think it was mostly Austin's birthday cake.  I had turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, and green beans with onions.  Benny ate his red cabbage and asparagus instead of the green beans.

Austin's Birthday

Austin was so ready to open presents when he arrived Thursday.  We told him he had to wait until Friday to open anything other than the birthday card that came in the mail from a Great Aunt.  Shortly after midnight here he came ready to open everything! LOL

The cake itself was a fail because the icing kept melting so I couldn't get the sprinkles right on the red side.  Austin added only 12 candles - 6 pink and 6 white on opposing colors.  I said we needed a 13th one since that's how old he is.  So he added a blue one to the middle section.

Week of Workouts

Thursday was fitting with leg day for Thanksgiving, even though I don't eat the legs LOL.

Friday was supposed to be shoulders but I went with Build: Back/Bis instead.

Saturday I went ahead and worked my shoulders.

Sunday began week 3 with Chest/Tris.

Monday I had another double headache so I made it a rest day.  I've added my headaches to the list of things to talk to the doctor about when I see him next week for my annual physical.

Tuesday I got my Cardio & Abs in.

This morning was leg day again.

Colon Cleanse

 

I originally signed up for Benny to do the colon cleanse but he was having issues with the probiotic so I never had him take it.  I then figured I'd try it to combat Thanksgiving and Austin's cake.  I took the first dose with Saturday's brunch.  After Sunday's dose I had to go twice but felt weird all day.  Monday I forgot to bring the bottle with me to work so I didn't have any.  I took Tuesday's dose with lunch.  Today I took the dose with an Orgain shake.

I haven't gone since Sunday. My body likes to do things the opposite of the norm (i.e. cheese loosens me up) so perhaps this colon cleanse is having the opposite effect, contributing to the gain.  I will continue with the cleanse the rest of this week to see if anything changes.

If you've done a colon cleanse (pills or liquid) how long did it take for you to notice any change?

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

10 Things for Which I am Thankful

Today's writing prompt from The SITS Girls' Back to Blogging Challenge it to list 10 things we're thankful for.  Here are 10 random things for me.

1. Cuddles with Austin.  He is becoming a teenager this year so I know I don't have many of these left.
2. My house.  We HAD to get out of that bad neighborhood in 2012.  We couldn't stay there any longer because of the nasty comments, noise, and threats from the criminal neighbors that had moved in across the street.
3. My job.  Even though I hate it a lot I am thankful that I have a job.
4. Weight Watchers.  Without their partnership with researchers to do the diabetes prevention study I probably would've never lost weight or found my passion.
5. My readers.  Your support and encouragement throughout this journey has been such a tremendous help.
6. My new car.  Yes, the accident was a godsend.  My old car wasn't really safe to drive anymore but I didn't have much of a choice.  There was no heat or air, only knew when to fill up the tank when the car hesitated turning right, most of the time the turn signals and probably brake lights didn't work, the radio was possessed (turning on and going full blast all on its own), etc.
7. Benny.  Yes, he may annoy me or frustrate me a lot of time but he has helped me pick myself back up many times.
8. My FitFam.  All the other health and fitness bloggers out there are great inspirations and resources for when you get stuck somewhere or you may find yourself helping them too.
9. The Internet.  Without it...well I don't know where I'd be.  I wouldn't have met Benny.  I wouldn't be able to communicate with most people.  What can't you do online?
10. The Farmer's Market.  It's an inexpensive way for me to explore new veggies (I don't really see much fruit at the downtown one I go to).  I've discovered my newfound love of zucchini and Swiss chard there.

For what are you thankful?