Apple Cinnamon Detox Water

All throughout Pinterest I've been seeing this recipe and how AMAZING it is. Claims of a natural detox, weight loss and how it makes it easier to drink water since it tastes really good. At o calories, I thought why not give it a try? The other night I went I went to the grocery store and just so happened that all the ingredients were right next to each other. I finally decided to give it a try! 

I Followed a recipe from Running Away? I'll Help You Pack.

1. Apple - Thinly Sliced

1. Stick of Cinnamon

1, Gallon of Water

Ice to taste

I actually boiled the water and cinnamon stick for added flavor. Once the water came to a boil, I just added to the sliced apples and left it for about 8hrs. 

This is what it looks like after it's been sitting!

So does it work? Yes, it works really well. I already drink about 8 cups of water per day, but at the end of the day I usually can't even look at the cup anymore. I try to avoid sugary drinks all together, even though I LOVE them. How is this relevant? The water curbs my juice craving which is great. Cinnamon is great for your health and so are apples. Apples are known to give you more energy than a cup of coffee, so YES!! I'll take it. As for losing weight, drinking water in general fills you up quicker preventing you from wanting to eat excessively so i'd say yes. It works. 

This recipe is great and a lot easier for me to get my 8-10 cups of water per day without a blah taste of plain water. 

If you try it, let me know how it works for you! I'd love to hear about it. 

Blk Water?

So, today I tried this Blk Water stuff. I was totally freaked out. It is LITERALLY BLACK. Like when you mix black paint with water black. Everywhere I look I see this water or people talking about how amazing it is. I did some research and found some good and some not so good reviews about it. The good were that it offers some extra minerals and bad were that it’s just a gimmick. I haven't reached a conclusion yet, but I did want to try it. I mean, really. It's Black Water! I didn't know how it would taste and I found it very hard to believe that it tasted like water, like they claimed. Well, as for the taste, it does taste like plain water. So I guess it's ok. As for how good it is for you, I will have to do some extra research.

As for price, I got it at Stop & Shop for about $2 for a 16oz bottle.

If you try it, let me know what you think. J

While looking online, I came across this blog:

http://blog.sneakpeeq.com/2011/08/18/why-would-anyone-want-to-drink-black-water/

Here is what they had to say about:

Why is it Black?

Naturally black in color, the formula binds to the molecules of pure Canadian Spring Water turning it naturally black, with no artificial dyes, coloring, or additives.

So why would I want to drink it?

Blk water has Fulvic Acid in it which is critical in helping transport and absorbs nutrients. Fulvic Acid’s small molecular structure allows for the fast absorption of over 77 different trace minerals and elements, powerful electrolytes, antioxidants, and free radical scavengers. Giving you energy, re-balancing your pH levels and making you feel like a total rockstar!

How Do You Overcome Cravings?

Hello Friends,


For the past few days I've been thinking, what are some ways you overcome cravings?
Yes, that pesky little feeling you get every time you decide you are on a diet? At one point, cravings were my arch-nemesis. LOL. Yes, it was that bad. Now, this is actually something I don't struggle that much with anymore. I do however, have a few tips on how it became easier to deal with it and for staying on track.


Tip#1:

My best and most important tip I can give you is, if you have something you know isn't good for you, DON'T BUY IT! Yes, don't even put yourself through that. In my house, I am the one in charge of groceries as I am sure most of the other mommas out there are too. If I know I have a weakness for cookies, or a specific anything, I just don't get it.

Tip #2:

When you do go grocery shopping, make sure to get plenty of healthy snacks. I always keep fruits, yogurts,  and peanuts around. This way when I do need a snack, I can go in the fridge and grab something. The harder it is for you to find or get to a healthy snack, the less-likely it is that you will stick to it.

Tip #3:

Plan ahead.
Me for example, every night I pack my lunch and snacks to bring to work the following day. If I wait to do it in the morning, I always come up with a million excuses and don't do it.


Tip #4

Chew on ice. I have a very bad habit of eating when I am bored. Sometimes when I am home alone or on long weekends like the one we just had, I seem to always end up in front of the fridge. Even at work, sitting in front of a computer for 8+ hours a days can also get pretty boring. I would always find myself in front of the vending machine (which I must say, is pretty awesome at work. LOL, I'll post a picture in the future.) As awesome as it is, it is not for this gal. One thing that helps me A LOT is chewing on ice. It tricks my mind into thinking I am eating and it has zero calories. :) Also helps on your water intake which for me is at least 8+ glasses a day!

Tip #5:

Give in.
(Your probably like WTF?? LOL)
Like I said before, avoiding cravings comes easy to me, but sometimes, very rarely there is that one thing that I just have to have. When this does happen, I allow myself to have a cheat day sort of speak. One thing you have to keep in mind though, just because you are having a "cheat" day, DOES NOT mean you are going to stuff your face until you can't anymore. No, by no means is that what I am saying. Last week I was craving pizza for days, it was Friday and I really didn't want to cook dinner so I caved in and ordered it. I went with the thin crust, some veggies and meat. I had one slice and my chocolate Shakeology for dinner. I was satisfied, got rid of my craving and over all it wasn't a super bad dinner.

These are some of the things I do to avoid cravings, what are some tips that help you? Please share below in the comments or email me. I would love to hear what helps you stick to your goals!

On a different note, just wanted to share a few quick things with everyone.
Today I got my Beachbody check for being a coach. I knew it was coming, but I was totally surprised when I actually opened the mail and saw it. I am soo excited about it, this weeks check is paying for almost all of Sophie's daycare. Not only is Beachbody helping me achieve my goals physically, it is also helping me financially. Let m eknow if you are interested in finding out more about becoming a coach.


Also, today I received my Hip Hop Abs and Rockin' Body workouts by Shaun T. I am not really sure when I am going to start it yet. Either when I am done with Insanity or while still on Insanity first thing in the morning. I'll let you know when I decide and I'll post my results. :)

Last, but not least, I want to share with you my latest FAVORITE Shakeology recipe. 

Man, I thought I liked the peanut butter and banana one and BAM, I fell in love all over again.

Here it is:

1/4 cup strawberries

1 cup of ice

1 scoop of chocolate Shakeology 

1 cup of coconut water.

Yes, this shake is absolutely amazing! 

For the time being, my favorite, until I try I different recipe of course.

It still boggles my mind how something so delicious is actually my healthiest meal of the day!

Thank you Shakeology :)

Let me know if you have any questions or comments. I always love getting those. You can also email me at pamsrumble@gmail.com

Until my next post!

What just happened here??

Hello friends,


I wanted to give you an updated on my current results with Insanity and Shakeology, but before I do so, I would like to explain a little bit about why I changed my blog COMPLETELY! LOL
Basically, since starting my blog, one of the questions I got asked the most was " Tell us more about having a preemie and NICU life." I am always willing to share my story and raise awareness to this cause so near to my heart, with also wanting to have an "about me" kind of blog, I just decide to make the change. I will continue to write about my workouts and diet tips, the only difference you will now hear a lot more about my family, my favorite make-up, shoes and whatever else catches my interest that day! This should make it for a lot more interesting things to read about. :)
As always, comments and questions are always welcomed!

Sooo,

What the heck have I been up too lately??
Well, basically all over the place. LOL, with the crazy convention week I had, I felt like I was playing catch in spending time with my family, getting the house chores done and all other million things mommies are responsible for. In the middle of everything our insurance company decided to drop us because of our dog Rocky (because he is a pit-bull) and Sophie's daycare have been taking it upon themselves to make decision without discussing anything with me. Soo, yea stressful few days.
Last week I did not workout everyday, my foot was killing me, I had no motivation and a bunch of other excuses, yes I know!! Today I will be pressing play even if it kills me. I made a promise to myself and I am not a quitter. I did however, go for a jog and have been replacing my biggest meal of the day (dinner) with Shakeology. I also drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, don't drink anything with sugar and avoid most carbs.

Thank God for Shakeology. Between the days I did workout and drinking Shakeology, I have seen major results and even though I didn't give it my all, I am soooo happy! It just goes to show what I will accomplish when I am back full force with Insanity!

Here is a picture update:

P.S This is not my real "before" picture. My before is kind of a little risque if you know what I mean and the hubby is not having it. LOL 

Not where I want to be, but a lot closer.

As always, if you want to find out more about Shakeology or Insanity let me know. 

Until next time!!

Find me on instagram: @mrs_rumble

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The Past Couple Of Days..

Hello My Beautiful Friends

Since convention is over we are finally slowing down at work and I had few minutes for a post. Soo, where have I been this week you're wondering? Well, I attempted to workout on Monday, but I can't really even consider it a workout. 
On Saturday I was rushing to leave the house and kind of ran over the vacuum. I instantly felt crazy amounts of pain on my right ankle and since I had to leave I didn't really give it much thought. So fast-forward to Monday. I had every intention on working out, but all the jumping around was not making my ankle any better. I tried my best and I did finish it, but by the end I thought my foot was falling off. Instead of going through it all over again yesterday, I decided to let my ankle rest. Today I feel much better and will attempt it again. 

So, since I have kind of slacking on my workout I stepped up my game diet wise. I have been eating a lot healthier this week and also supplementing with Shakeology. I must say though, the shakes are sooo good I have been feeling a little guilty drinking it. LOL, crazy to think it is actually my healthiest meal of the day even when I am eating at my best. I have been trying not to weigh myself, but since last time I've lost a little over 2lbs. Not much, but it makes me feel GREAT! LOL. 

In eating healthier, I've been doing a little research in what are the best foods to eat when trying to lose weight. Being that I am not and have never been the best healthy eater, I need all the knowledge I can get. I also wanted to share with everyone some of the "rules" I have been living by lately. 

When I started my journey to a healthier me, I did some research on what would be some easy tips to follow to help me reach my goals.

Here are 25 tips I have been following and have been successful with. 

1. Set a realistic weight-loss goal. Most experts recommend aiming for half a pound to 2 pounds a week.

2. Keep track. Dieters who keep track of everything they eat lose twice as much weight as those who don't, research shows.

3. Motivate yourself. Get a pair of jeans or pants that are too tight and hang them in the kitchen instead of the closet to keep you inspired.

4. Get help from family and friends. Dieters who have support from a partner at home lose more weight than those who don't, studies show.

5. Move it to lose it. Research shows that people who do physical activities such as walking or biking for two to four hours a week during weight-loss efforts lose an extra 3 to 5 pounds over a year.

6. Pay attention to portions. A 3-ounce portion of meat, poultry or fish is about the size of the palm of your hand or a deck of cards; 1 teaspoon of butter or margarine, a standard postage stamp; a cup of cold cereal, berries or popcorn, a baseball; 4-inch pancake or waffle, the diameter of a CD.

7. Clean out your pantry and refrigerator. Get rid of the foods that sabotage your weight loss.

8. Create "a dinner deck." This would include 10 favorite quick and healthful dinners written on index cards. Each card should list the ingredients for the recipe on one side and directions for making it on the other.

9. Avoid hunger. Eat regular meals and snacks. Make sure you have some protein foods such as yogurt, tuna, beans or chicken for most meals. Some research suggests that protein helps you feel full longer.

10. Keep produce on hand. Place a bowl of vegetables such as broccoli, snap peas, cucumbers or carrot sticks in the refrigerator. You can eat them as a snack or when preparing meals to take the edge off your hunger.

11. Stock up on "impulse fruits." Keep things like grapes, small apples, small bananas and pears around the house. These foods are easy to eat without having to do much cutting and slicing.

12. Make some stealth changes. That will get everyone in the family eating healthier. Buy low-fat 1% or skim milk, low-fat cream cheese and reduced-fat cheese instead of the full-fat versions. Use them in recipes to cut the fat and calories.

13. Cut out liquid calories. Eliminate soda and sugary drinks such as sweetened iced tea, sports drinks and alcoholic beverages. Liven up the taste of water by adding lemon, lime, cucumber or mint. Choose skim and 1% milk.

14. Practice the "Rule of One." When it comes to high-calorie foods, you won't go wrong if you allow one small treat a day. That might be one cookie or a fun-sized candy bar.

15. Pace, don't race. Force yourself to eat more slowly and savor each bite.

16. Hydrate before meals. Drinking 16 ounces, or two glasses, of water before meals may help you eat less.

17. Downsize plates, bowls, glasses, silverware. Using smaller versions of your serving ware will help you eat less food naturally.

18. Adopt the motto "after 8 is too late" for snacks after dinner.

19. Buy a pedometer. Health experts recommend taking at least 10,000 steps a day, which is roughly 4 to 5 miles, depending on your stride length.

20. Treat yourself occasionally. If your chocolate craving is getting to you, try diet hot-chocolate packets. If you need a treat, go out for it or buy small prepackaged portions of ice cream bars. If you love chocolate, consider keeping bite-size pieces in the freezer.

21. Dine at a table. Eat from a plate while seated at a table. Don't eat while driving, lounging on the couch or standing at the fridge.

22. Dine out without pigging out. Figure out what you are going to eat in advance. Get salad dressing on the side. Restaurants usually put about one-quarter cup (4 tablespoons) of dressing on a salad, which are often too many calories. Best to stick with 1 to 2 tablespoons. Dip your fork into the dressing and then into the salad.

23. Get plenty of sleep. Scientists have found that sleep deprivation increases levels of a hunger hormone and decreases levels of a hormone that makes you feel full. The effects may lead to overeating and weight gain.

24. Weigh yourself regularly. That's what successful dieters and those who manage to maintain weight loss do. Some step on the scales once a week. Others do so daily.

25. Reward yourself. When you meet your incremental weight loss goals, say losing 5 pounds, treat yourself to something — but not food. Buy a CD or DVD you've been wanting or go out to a movie with a friend. (If you know me, you know I go shopping. LOL)

Later on I will be posting about how my exercise went tonight. I would love to know any of the tips you have that work for you.

..Because pictures make everything more fun, here is a picture of my favorite breakfast this morning. :D

If anyone is interested in finding out about Shakeology , you can either leave me a comment or send me an email at pamsrumble@gmail.com :)

A little bit about me!

Hi Everyone,

I've decided to create a blog about my journey to becoming healthier and fit.
This is my story..

My name is Pam and recently turned 25. I am married to an amazing man and have an amazing 2 year old little girl named Sophie.

I was always thinner (not fat), but never healthy. After having my daughter, my weight went through the roof. Sophie was a 25 week preemie born at 1lbs 6oz. After birth, Sophie was in the hospital for over 3 moths. As you can imagine, these were the worse months in my life. To keep me busy, food became my best friend. After 102 days in the hospital Sophie came home at 4lbs. I on the other hand had 30lbs. Today Sophie is a healthy, full of life little girl.

I wish I could say that the pounds were off as easy as they came one, but if you've ever struggled with weight loss you know it's  not that easy. I tried everything, and by everything, I mean EVERYTHING! From crash diets, nutritionists, to crazy workouts. Some worked, others not so much, but considering how drastic they were as soon as I was off a regiment the weight came back.
After many attempts, I came across Insanity. I was so tempted to get it, but didn't know if I would stick it out. I put it on hold for a while and moved on with my life.
I started eating healthier, making better decisions and was able to lose 10 pounds. I started to get confident and went back to the Insanity idea.

Out  of  impulse, I made the purchase. One week later it was on my doorstep. I have to admit, I was pretty nervous. (LOL)

On that Monday, I started. after the fit test alone I thought I was going to die... but I didn't.
For the next three days I was so sore I could barely move, but I still pressed play. After week one I had lost 4lbs and it was enough for me to continue.

Today I am on day 13 of my first round of Insanity. I decided to create this blog now because I want my thoughts and feeling to be fresh when I write them down and not a memory.

Keep reading to see how my story ends! I now know that being healthy is a lifestyle.

I look to forward to inspire you as much as I have been inspired to get my butt in gear and achieve a healthier me.

Leave your questions or comments and I will get to them all.
Thanks for reading and I look forward to seeing you here again.

This is a recent picture of my family on my Birthday

08/06

Follow this link if you are interested in learning more about Insanity!