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KalorieBox Review and Giveaway!

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I love getting mail. Especially now that I work from home, I wait in anticipation for the 4:30 shuffle of steps up my front stoop – knowing then that hopefully, the postman will deliver a bevy of boxes, a parcel of padded envelopes, or at the very least, a stack of letters and not just bills. Usually my mail days are a bust, filled with the mundane reminders of adult life – political flyers, cell phone bills and grocery store circulars. But on Saturday, I scored with the mail – because I received a Kalorie Box!

Screen Shot 2013-01-29 at 9.07.55 AM

KalorieBox is right on par with the new monthly subscription type boxes sweeping the nation – As a current BirchBox member (if you sign up use this link and we both get credit!), a monthly premium beauty sample box for $10, I was eager to check out a box filled with low fat and nutritional goodies. The first thing that struck me about KalorieBox is that it has a charitable angle to it. For each box they sell, they donate meals to hungry children. Pretty cool – I like the idea of losing my weight caused from TOO MUCH FOOD to help out people who don’t have enough (which is why my DietBet winnings this month will go to No Kid Hungry!)

Upon opening the box, I was impressed with the amount of stuff they pack in it. I scored a full sized box of Cheese Thinables, a Zevia lime cola soda, a bag of pirates booty, a fiber one cookie brownie, Peeled dried mango, a Pacific Grove Almond milk drink and a $1 off coupon for Zevia. This was a pretty hefty score, and one I’m still exploring. (Love the Zevia!!!) I have definitely been curious about almond milk but didn’t want to commit to a whole gallon, so I’m jazzed to try this out in a sample size. Also, the Cheese Thinables are pretty darn decent for a large 60-calorie serving (you get a huge handful! They taste just like Cheez-Its!)

KalorieBox

My KalorieBox loot – look at all those goodies!

KalorieBox has a few different options for subscribing – if you order one month at a time, it’s $25. If you order three months at a time, it’s $21 a month, or if you order 6 months at a time, it’s $17 a month. I definitely might check this out for a few months, because I love trying new foods and don’t always have the time to hunt them down at the store. Because seeing is believing, KalorieBox has generously offered one of my readers a sample box! There’s a ton of different ways to enter this giveaway, but I ask that you leave one comment letting me know why you want to win, and “like” KalorieBox on Facebook. This is a RaffleCopter giveaway, so for each action you complete, just hit the “I Did It!” button to the right for your action to be accepted. This giveaway will end next Wednesday at 12 AM PST and is US Only, 18+. (Don’t worry international – I have a giveaway coming up for you soon, too!)

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Why do you like Chike? Giveaway!

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Hellloooo Double Chinners! I’ve missed you! I’m back from my trip to Thailand and while I have TONS to tell you about, I wanted to kick off the new year with a great giveaway! Chike, tasty high protein shakes, is offering one of my readers a BPA Free Shaker and Ball and a set of their best flavors. Read my review and then enter by following the instructions at the bottom of this post.

20130106-183108.jpgI had initially heard of Chike through some of my favorite bloggers who focus on bariatric surgery. When you have weight loss surgery, you can’t eat as much, so quality high protein drinks like Chike are desirable to fill you up but also give you vitamins, protein and calcium. Since I’m a fan of anything quick and tasty, I definitely wanted to try these out as they’re not just for people who’ve had bariatric surgery.

The first one I was going to try was the protein packed iced coffee…but my husband got to it first. This is a big deal, Chike, because most of the “blog stuff” that comes to our house he won’t touch as it’s more often than not something weird like mushroom noodles. Matt’s review? “Very good! I was skeptical of a high protein coffee but with ice and water this had the caffeine I wanted and it filled me up.” Matt didn’t realize it was a meal replacement until I told him later that day when he didn’t want dinner! Haha!

photo 1I decided to try the chocolate flavor, and went all fancy by using cold milk in the shaker instead of water. I added some calories and fat this way but I prefer a creamier tasting drink and love that cold milk foam you get on top! After a couple hearty shakes, my drink was ready to go. I was also very pleasantly surprised, because most weight loss powdered drinks taste like chocolate flavored chalk. Not this one. It also didn’t have little bubbles of powder in it still, which is a plus if you’re a huge freak about texture like I am. Nice!

I haven’t tried them all, but my next favorite is strawberry. It doesn’t taste exactly like a sun ripened strawberry, maybe more like strawberry ice cream. I’d love to maybe one day see this shake from Chike with some small dried strawberry pieces. Then it would totally be like a milkshake! Chike also sent me vanilla, creamsicle and banana, but those are chillin in my pantry waiting to be eaten for breakfast! :)

I think you’ll really like these if you give them a try, so please enter the giveaway. Once again, just like Chike’s Facebook page here and write on their wall why you would like to try Chike. You can just copy and paste something like this – “I’m Jane and was sent over by the Double Chin Diary. I would like to try Chike because I want one of those snazzy shaker ball cups!”

photo 2Then just come back here, tell me you commented, and you’re good to go! If you want an extra entry, send a tweet about the giveaway and tag @lyssacurran or @doublechindiary and @chikenutrition with this link: http://wp.me/p2kXVY-ym .

Once again, leave a comment letting me know you did. You guys rock!This contest will end on Monday, January 14th at 12:01 AM PST. I will randomly pick a winner. GOOD LUCK!

Don’t forget to come back tomorrow to read about how one of my new year’s resolutions is already off to a strong, itchy and quite-a-story type of start! (It involves: severe weather, mosquitoes, jungle treks and getting lost. Whee!)

Review and Giveaway: Plus Size Lace Custom-Fit Bra by Comfort Choice

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Men:
This is another post you might just wanna skip – unless you have any loveable curvy ladies in your life (38 – 48 B-DDD) who would like a free bra!
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A couple weeks ago, I told you about how the kind folks at Full Beauty sent me a new bra after reading one of my complaints about never being able to find a comfortable bra. Well – they really put the cherry on top for me, because they recently sent me the Custom Fit Bra by Comfort Choice – and here’s the thing – it’s SO COOL, as in, wow, great idea – that there is a patent pending! What’s so cool about it? Well, not only can you adjust the shoulder straps, but you can adjust the band size by two inches – larger or smaller – for the perfect fit. As someone who fluctuates a lot in weight, this bra is going to be so important to my journey towards losing 50 pounds. Here’s a great picture that shows you how it works – all you have to do is adjust the straps to get a little extra room or make it a little extra snug.

Comfort Choice Bra from FullBeauty.com


When I first put on the bra, I was pleasantly surprised that for as “high tech” as it is, it doesn’t have underwire! When I worked at a bra store when I was 16, I was told that women over a size B cup should not go wire-free. Thankfully, the bra designers have proved that old-school rationale wrong, and now ladies of all sizes can enjoy having their breasts cradled by fabric and not pokey, cold wires. A couple of other perks I noticed – there are nice wide, padded shoulder straps, but they’re not big enough to stick out under clothing. The bra itself has a pretty lace overlay, which may not work for a very thin t-shirt or fabric, but is not visible under regular blouses. I’m also thrilled by the color – it’s hard to find plus bras in pretty patterns and shades, and I was sent the dark magenta, which is a gorgeous purple plum. One more thing that matters to me – I never “need” big cleavage or want maximum lift, but this bra does a great job hoisting the girls up into a nice, pretty and feminine position – nothing too Playboy bunny but nothing too demure, either. It’s the perfect medium for showing off your assets without showing too much.

Be wise with your size with the Comfort Choice Bra – the only bra that adjusts in size to fit your changing shape.

I like knowing that with this bra, I’ll get continued use after it even during and after my weight loss. Even the twelve or so pounds I’m down have affected the way my bras fit, so it’s good to know this one is going to stick it out with me for the long haul. Right now, I have it extended to the max so It’s a little more snug than I would like (Definitely still wearable) but it’s great to know in a couple more pounds, I can cinch it in to be the perfect size. Here’s another thing that’s pretty cool – even if it’s not on sale, it’s super affordable at $44.99. However, right now it’s being shown at $29.99 – $34.99. Score!
Now that you’ve read my review, I’m pretty sure you’d like to try it out yourself, right? Full Beauty is generously giving away one comfort choice bra to one of my readers. The bra is sized from 38 B – 48 DDD. If you’re not in that range of sizes, enter for a friend or family member! It’s easy to enter to win – I’m using Rafflecopter and all you have to do for one entry is to visit the website and tell me which color you would choose. For additional entries, “like” FullBeauty on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and send out a tweet about this giveaway. This giveaway will end on Monday, November 12 at 11:59 PM – GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: EatSmart Precision Tracker Digital Bathroom Scale

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When I started Thailand 20 Tuesday, I began recording my daily weigh-in number in a shabby little notebook. I believe one page had a wad of gum stuck on it and the other had notes from reporting jobs past, probably bad quotes about student council meetings. It was convenient but definitely not ideal. Thankfully, the kind folks over at Eat Smart felt their spidey-senses tingling and sent me the awesome new Precision Tracker Digital Bathroom Scale to test out and review!

Here’s the scale in its packaging. I like the minimalist design of the packaging – not a lot of distraction, just focus on the scale inside. The box wasn’t a pain to open, and they include the batteries needed for the scale, which is HUGE. There is nothing worse than getting a shiny new gadget and realizing you don’t have you what you need to use it.

What I love most about this scale is how sleek it is. It’s very thin and is perfect tucked into a corner. My old scale was nice, but didn’t have the same slim design as this one, and more often than not, my cat used it as a launch pad to attack her brother. (Lucia loves this new scale, too though – she’s been “Weighing” herself every day.

The set up for the tracking is super easy – you basically step on, then step off and it records you as user 1. I laughed the second time I got on because apparently the cat had used the scale right after me, and my tracker showed a gain of 200+ pounds. Yeaaah… Sometimes I feel like I gain weight that quickly! This scale is ideal too because it tracks the weight of 8 different people – so Matt and I can keep tabs on what our supply of leftover Halloween candy is doing to us. (Cats can apparently monitor their weight, too.) This is a WAY better solution for tracking your weight loss than using a shabby little notebook! It also shows the weight you’ve lost as a percentage point too – which is fun, because once I hit 10% I’ll be celebrating!

This scale is well-made, very attractive in design and does what it needs to do very well – weigh people, and keep track of their weight. My only complaint is frivolous, and only one that I’d come up with – the glass platform is cold in the morning. That is ridiculous and not even something that should have been typed out loud, because every scale in the world is like that, but with 55 degree winter here in Southern California, my tootsies get chilly at my morning weigh in. (I can just hear you all – “Wear socks!”. And yes, I can see that you’re playing the world’s smallest violin just for me!)

If you’re interested in buying this scale, it’s listed for a sweet $44.95 on Amazon.com right now – originally $100! Eat Smart did provide me this scale for free in exchange for a review, but I’d be just as complementary of this product if I had bought it on my own. I urge you to check it out – and if you need a food scale, they’re the leader in the market. (I think I should go work for EatSmart!)

What’s your bathroom scale like? Anyone want my old one? :P

Review: EatSmart Food Scale and Giveaway

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39g of Dried Mango is only 120 calories! Score!

Hi there! How was your weekend? Mine was AWESOME… because I spent it in the garden, getting my hands dirty and planting veggies! Pix later this week. Today, I’m delighted to review the EatSmart Precision Pro Scale and give you a chance to win one of your own! But first, here’s the stuff good bloggers should always admit: Disclosure: I did receive a complimentary scale from EatSmart for this review.Remember how I was getting frustrated with Points Plus and said I would be starting to weigh out my portions? I knew I needed a scale to make sure I wasn’t fudging any numbers. I like to eat things like dried mango, and the calorie count is measured in grams – for example, 38 grams is 120 calories. How would it even be possible to measure grams without a scale?!
Here’s what I loved about the scale:

  • Super easy to use. I didn’t even have to read the manual to know how to toggle

    Measuring is easy thanks to the Tara function that deletes the container weight...

    between different measurements, to turn it on and off, etc.

  • It has a nice, sleek look that would match any decor well.
  • It comes with batteries (so convenient – I loved that), and has an automatic turn off after 3 minutes if you get busy doing other things.
  • The display window has big, easy to read numbers and letters – perfect for people like me who always lose their glasses.
  • Wipes clean with a damp rag – no need to wash, and the plastic material seems like it would be easy to clean up should you have a big spill.
  • It does the trick easily and measures accurately, which is the most important thing!
  • Affordable price. On Amazon, this scale is priced at $25.00 and has over 3,000 5-star reviews. WOW – feedback like that doesn’t lie.

    Nice, simple packaging.

I only have one nitpicky thing to mention -

  • The stainless-steel looking buttons show finger prints pretty easily. If you want to keep it out on the counter top, you’ll have to be a little more maniacal about wiping it down more if you’re a spaz like me :) But, most normal people won’t even notice, so carry on!

Overall, the PrecisionPro Scale is a GREAT choice if you’re looking for a food scale. It also comes with a 2 year warranty, which is a big deal in today’s economy. If a company is willing to back something up with a long warranty, you know it’s a quality product. Check out EatSmart’s website for more details – how cute is this red retro scale? It totally reminds me of something Rachel Ray would have in her kitchen.

Want a chance to win your very own EatSmart scale? It’s super easy – just leave me a blog comment telling me WHY you want to win – and then when you do that, you’ll unlock five more easy entries! Make sure you use a real e-mail address when you comment so I can contact you if you win! This giveaway is for US residents only. Also – for every new Facebook “like” that Eat Smart gains in April, they’ll donate .50c to the Susan G Komen Foundation. So even if you don’t want a scale – “like them” to help raise money for breast cancer research.

I use rafflecopter for my giveaways, so I will randomly choose one winner on the morning of Tuesday, April 10. I think that’s all! Let me know if you have any questions – and GOOD LUCK!

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Review: Uncle Sam Cereal

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Hello friends: This is my first food review! Special thanks to Attune Foods and Uncle Sam cereal for reaching out. Please note that I was provided a complimentary review sample of this cereal in exchange for a review.

Cereal and I have a weird relationship. At one point in my teen years, I stockpiled four boxes of Count Chocula cereal after calling multiple stores in the area to find it. I never liked Cheerios, Kix or Wheetabix – but the sugary, chalky pellets of puffed who-knows-what always tickled my taste buds, and I’d chow down on bowls of Lucky Charms or worse, Reeses puffs. As I grew aware of how being fat was seriously unhealthy, I gave up my affair with sugar-bomb cereal and traded it in for a bland but stable relationship with whole wheat toast.

In my college years, I found the glories of fiber and became a fan of Trader Joe’s “Twigs, Flakes and Clusters.” Since then I’ve dabbled in a few high fiber cereals, as I find them to be filling, low in fat, and much easier to digest than the brightly-colored fatty-flakes I once loved.

The cereal - no artificial colors here!

In a wonderfully written letter about the product (Copywriters can’t help but notice the words – clever, informative and succinct! Well done, copywriter), I found out that Uncle Sam cereal was once lauded as a “natural laxative cereal.”  That’s a claim that may frighten people who don’t want their bowels quaking shortly after breakfast, but I found it to be true in the most ungross way. Sorry – fiber is so important for your body, and this cereal helps move everything along! A 3/4 cup serving packs a whopping TEN grams of fiber! For comparison: 3/4 cup Captain Crunch has less than gram of fiber. Fiber fail, Captain Crunch!

Four Core Ingredients

What’s the most important thing about this cereal? How it tastes! I’ll admit – I was skeptical at first of a cereal that lists only four ingredients. (Isn’t it sad that I’d probably be less suspicious of  an ingredient list longer than the bible?)Thankfully, my suspicions were wrong, and the taste is nutty, simple and light, with a nice crunch. It’s not sweetened, so people who are used to the taste of “Artificial O’s” might think it a bit bland, but I drizzled some clover honey over the top of it and it was perfect. I ate mine consistently with 2% cow’s milk and a drizzle of honey – very good in the morning, it kept me satisfied until lunch time. I wanted to try grinding the flakes in a food processor and use them for onion ring breading, but my busy work week got the best of me and I actually LIKED what I was eating, so the box disappeared in pure breakfast consumption.

Milk, Honey and Uncle Sam

One more thing: Uncle Sam cereal is a verified product in the Non-GMO project. This means that it’s made out of ingredients that aren’t genetically modified. This means no cloning sheep, no neon green dyes, no harvesting crushed beetle shells for super powers. This is a good thing – and a cause that makes me happy to support a brand.

I recommend Uncle Sam if you’re looking for a filling, healthful breakfast cereal. You can find Uncle Sam at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Wal-Mart and most grocery stores nationwide. If you try it, let me know what you think!