Confession: I'm a Protein Diva!

I'm a pretty easy going gal. I don't get all worked up over brand names or  keeping up with the Joneses.  I love great deals, pinching pennies and I have no problem admitting that many of our things are bought at garage sales, discount stores or come as hand me downs. 

When it comes to the health and wellness of my family, there are a few things , however, that I have chosen to be a little picky about.   

One of them is my protein powder. 

Being into fitness for most of my life, as well as being a vegetarian, I have relied on protein drinks to help supplement the protein in my diet. I have tried pretty much every kind of protein on the market.  After years of gagging forcing several brands down, I finally found a brand that was actually palatable.  

To my disappointment, I learned that it contained so many additives and ingredients that were not benefiting my body, but actually harming it [sigh].  This is the case with many protein powders/drinks.

To name a few of these not so wonderful ingredients:


Artificial Sweeteners

The dangers of artificial sweeteners are no longer a secret. Even if we are not talking about the possibility of the big "C", artificial sweeteners, like Splenda, can destroy gut flora and are acidic, unlike stevia, which is alkaline. 

So many protein powders add aspartame or splenda to keep the sugar content low yet make the taste more palatable.  Watch out for this.



Whey

For years, whey protein became my protein of choice.  This was because soy protein can be a hormone disruptor and I don't like eggs (egg white protein). What is whey? 

• "After fat and casein are removed from milk, dairy processors are left with whey protein." (source)
  

A few disappointing facts about whey include:
-whey is acidic
-whey can be allergenic and bother people who have issues with dairy 
 sensitivity



Soy
Soy is a hormone disruptor and I stay clear from it.  In my ignorance, I was consuming toxic levels for a long time as I thought it was a good supplement to my vegetarian diet.  Long story short, that was destroying my body in several ways.  I don't consume soy nor do I give it to my girls. Guys, unless you want to start wearing a bra, I would stear clear of it, too. 



The conclusion...
After switching to vegan protein, I bought a container of vegan protein at a local health store.  Well, after gagging from the smell and taste, I'm disappointed to say that my money went out the window as its sits in the cabinet a year later. 

Then...behold I finally found the protein of my dreams. [Dramatic? Yes! but I'm so excited after searching for literally 18 years!]

Arbonne, vegan non-GMO protein is plant based and FREE from dairy, soy, gluten and artificial sweeteners. Yayyyyy!  Not to mention, it smells and tastes like cake batter.  Oh my gooooodness!  

(My girls love it and my husband [who can be quite picky regarding taste] agrees that there is nothing like it.  He has a protein smoothie every morning. )

More benefits of Arbonne Protein
-High protein content
-No cholesterol
-Low glycemic index
-Does not contribute to aminoacidemia, like whey – kidney stones or fatty liver  
(Dr. Kelly Martin, B.S., Pharm.D.)

Did I mention that it tastes so good??!?!

So, friends, that's the story of how I became a "protein diva".  You can put it to the test here.


Oh, have you ever tried making protein balls?  They are in high demand at our house!

So please, fellow health and fitness fanatics, check your ingredients!!!

Giveaway: Mini-makeover for Mom

Now, say that 10 times quickly....mini-makeover for mom, mini-makeover for mom. ; )


I love giving stuff away, so this is so fun for me. With Mother's Day approaching, I wanted to share some Pure, Safe and Beneficial products with one lucky momma.  

A very important piece of information that I have learned from Arbonne (even before deciding to sell the products) is that our skin is our largest organ and anything we put on it can be absorbed into our bloodstream in as little as 26 seconds.  This has changed everything when it comes to the products I use for myself and my family.

These are some of my favorite Arbonne products that have been quite beneficial for me as a mom of 4 little girls that I have included in the giveaway:


Fizz Sticks (Citrus & Pomegranite):
These are mommy's little helpers : )))    As you moms know, keeping up with 4 small children (or even 1 or 2 or 3) requires a lot of energy.  In addition to a healthy diet, these little antioxidant energy drink packets are great to add to water to give a subtle boost in energy.  They contain B vitamins and chromium for increased energy.  There are NO artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors AND they are alkaline not acidic like coffee.  (They are the ONLY energy drink I have ever tried because so many others freak me out.) 

RE9 Body Lotion/Serum:  I occasionally apply these to my mommy "battle scar" area a.k.a. lower abs, which has been inflated and deflated 4 times.  There's definitely some proof that I've brought some humans into this world.  I instantly see a difference when I apply the body serum and lotion.  Its gives a quick lift and greatly reduces any crazy lines, squiggles, dimples or whatever shapes and forms are going on down there.  Sorry, TMI?!?  Mommies, you know what I'm talkin' 'bout : )) 


RE9 Body Firming Creme:
This creme supports collagen and elastin to help promote a more firmer more toned look and feel to skin.  I use this on my tummy area as well.  The true life before/after pics of this creme are AMAZING!  I had to try it for myself and it works.

ABC Baby Care:
I use only this on my little ones for bathing.  I like knowing that it's safe for their precious skin and that nothing harmful is being absorbed into their blood stream.  This line has been known to help with eczema for adults and children.  The lotion has cleared up little eczema bumps on my 3 year olds face.


Detox Tea:
This herbal tea (a mix of chamomile and peppermint) contains milk thistle and slippery elm which help with liver detoxification.  One of the advantages of detoxing the liver is assisting in hormonal balance and ridding of excess hormones.  We are all familiar with the hormonal ups and downs with pregnancy, delivery and nursing. If you are looking for a more intense detox, try our 28 Day Detox Boot Camp.

Pure Vibrance Hair Mask:
I'm not sure about you, but my hair texture and lustre has definitely changed in this season of childbearing and nursing.  I realize a lot of that has to do with nutrition and hormonal changes, but this mask is a great external fix.  It's a day and night difference that I feel and see in my hair when I use this 1x per week. 

I would also love to throw in our Aromassentials Unwind Bath Salts (with lavender) for a warm foot soak after a long day of doing all that you moms do.  However, it may be a bit too large to throw in the package.  You can check it out here.  It's prettttty amazing, I must say. Maybe that will be another giveaway?!  Come back and visit to find out.

Anyway, those are the product samples that 1 momma will win from this giveaway.   

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

• Enter below by leaving a comment about being a mom (what you  love most about it or how it has blessed/changed your world or why you need these products ha ha)

• All entries must be in by Friday April 11 @ 11:59 pm CST

• 1 winner will be chosen and contacted by April 14th

• To see more posts like this and be updated on other giveaways, simply subscribe to this blog by adding your email in the "Follow By Email" section to the right. 

Don't want to wait for the giveaway or didn't win? Check out my website!  (Don't forget ask me how to shop at a discount and avoid paying retail.)

Arbonne Protein Balls

This is one of those things that seems too good to be true.  These little treats are like the new and improved healthier version of the no bake cookie. Yayyyyy!

I've seen them around on Facebook and Pinterest and since we love all things Arbonne*, we decided to give them a whirl....and YUM!  Our entire family likes these.  In fact, a bit of panic sets in when we don't have a batch around. Thankfully, they are quite easy to make.

Arbonne Protein Balls

1 1/3 c organic agave nectar or honey

2 c organic or natural peanut butter ( I used half Almond Butter)

4 c rolled oats

2 c Arbonne vegan protein powder (suggested 1 c chocolate and 1 c of vanilla)

Heat peanut butter and agave/honey in a saucepan for about 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and add the protein powder, mix well. In a large bowl, pour the mixture over the oats.

Refigerate for 1 hour.

Remove and roll into 1" balls.

Enjoy!

*For questions about Arbonne or how to shop at a discount, contact me at toniafrederick@myarbonne.com  Pure, Safe, Beneficial...always!

28 Day Detox Challenge Update: Weeks 3 & 4

Woo hoo! I did it!

I wanted to post my results sooner, but life happens : ) Thankfully, it was all good! Hopefully, you have had the opportunity to read about the amazing results I had on the first two weeks of the 28 Day Detox Challenge?! I wanted to share my results from weeks 3 & 4, as well.

Basically, the positive results continued.  I would say the biggest change/addition would be in regards to my energy level.  I may have been called annoying peppy last week! ; )  I decided to take it as a compliment and realized that it must be from increased energy from the extra vitamins and minerals in the Arbonne supplements and from the major decrease of toxins in my body. Yay! This is a very good thing.  

Otherwise here is...


...a summary of the results from the 28 days:

love handles - bye bye!

joint pain - gone!

remaining pregnancy weight - adios!

digestive issues - see ya!

toxic addictions (a.k.a diet pop) - get lost!

new habits - yes ma'am!

more energy - uh huh!

better nutritional choices - let's go!

lovin' Abonne even more - oh yeah!

(OK, so I was trying to make it fun. Was that too annoying peppy?)

So now what?
Because of the unbelievable results I have been feeling, I am going to continue to follow the program at a minimum of 80/20%. Meaning, I will continue to eat clean and try to avoid acidic, addictive and allergenic foods (dairy, coffee, gluten,etc.) for at least 80% of the time, if not more. Don't get me wrong...I will still enjoy my chai latte here and there and some chocolate now and then, but I'm going to be consistent. 

I have come too far and feel too great to throw it all away for a measly "toxic treat".  I will continue to implement the protein shakes, detox tea and energy drinks into my daily routine.  My family has come to love all of the products, as well, and my husband will be joining the 28 day challenge soon!  (Thankfully, I'm a consultant, so we can get them at a discount) : )))))

Thank you for following my progress and for caring! So many of you have been interested and encouraging and have even decided to take the step yourself. I'm so excited for you! We only get one life and one body. I want to do this right! 

I have had several people join me on this program.  Will you be the next to make an amazing life change such as this?

* This is not to take place of or act as medical advice.  Please consult your physician for any nutritional plans or diets. These are my personal and true experiences.  I am an Independent Consultant for Arbonne. Check out Arbonne and/or order (ID #14414570) or contact me for details. toniafrederick@myarbonne.com

28 Day Detox Challenge Update : Week 2

Last week, I posted about my reasons for starting this 28 Day Challenge and my experiences/results so far.  So appropriately, I wanted to share my week 2 findings with you, as well. Here's where I'm at:

• Energy: My energy levels are up this week. Work outs were easier than last week. My body is adjusting to the detoxification process. The B vitamins in the all natural Fizz Sticks drinks have been the missing link in my vegetarian diet over the years.  I have not been very good at supplementing those and I can tell a difference now!

• Digestive/GI: Major bloating and abdominal pain (that I have had checked out various times - long story) has almost completely resolved.  Most likely due to eliminating toxic foods and drinks and adding nutritional and safe supplements such as the Arbonne's Digestive Plus (pro/prebiotics & digestive enzymes).

• Joint Pain: Still feeling great and literally having no joint pain. Even my lower back pain seems to have resolved. This is CRAZY to me! It's most likely due to eliminating foods that cause inflammation?! Made it through an intense cardio kickbox class which usually kills my knees.

• Learning: Still enjoying all the new clean eating recipes (Eggplant "Pizzas" tonight, yum!) I'm also learning about new ingredients to add to our clean eating pantry.  Finally, I'm learning that this is very possible with the right mindset.  

• Cravings:  Week 2 was a bit more intense in this area.  So many people sipping coffee around me and eating yummy toxic foods has been a bit tempting at times.  I'm staying strong, however, because I know how great I feel and I know the benefits from staying disciplined in this. 

• Weight/inches: Down almost 6 lbs. and 3 inches as a bonus.  This was not my main goal for doing this detox, but I will definitely take this added benefit post 5 pregnancies. (My babies were worth every pound ; ) I wanted to focus more on internal issues/changes, but this kind of change happens from the inside out and I'm definitely OK with that : )

* This is not to take place of or act as medical advice.  Please consult your physician for any nutritional plans or diets. These are my personal and true experiences.  I am an Independent Consultant (ID # 14414570) for Arbonne. Check out Arbonne and/or order (ID #14414570).

28 Day Detox groups start every other monday.  Leave a comment if you'd like more info.  You are worth this!

28 Day Detox Challenge Update - Week 1

Week 1 Down!  Woo hoo!

Rewind one year :
Last year, our family began a journey towards cleaner eating and living. 

There is a long version of this story (which I'll save for another post), but I'm going to cut to the chase in an attempt to stay on point.

For many years, I was making a lot of good choices - working out regularly, teaching fitness classes, remaining a vegetarian (which choice I made at the age of 8), and eating foods that I thought were healthy for my body and feeding my family the same.

I recently found out that a lot of those nutritional choices were not as nutritious and beneficial as I thought.  In fact, they were harming my body, which manifested in various health concerns. In a nutshell, I found out that there were some things happening in my body that I wanted to turn around. 

My husband and I decided to get informed and make changes.  Informed on how to reduce exposure to toxins, prevent cancer, gain energy, and remove toxins the natural way and make changes in the foods we were eating and the products we were using.

We watched documentaries, read books and articles and learned a LOT of things in a short amount of time.  I was determined to find out so many things that I felt my traditional doctors were not telling me or possibly didn't even know.

Fast forward to this year:
I recently found out about the 28 Day Detox/Clean Eating Challenge sponsored by Arbonne. I was already a "believer" of this company because of their chemical free skin care line that is amazing!  I trusted that their nutritional products would be just as amazing. I was right.

This was just the next step that I wanted to take in my journey - a more intense level of detoxification and clean eating by removing addictive, acidic and allergenic foods and adding healthy natural supplements and "clean" meals.  

I decided to take the challenge. So, here are my findings after week 1:

• Joint Pain: The way my joints feel this week compared to before I started are night and day! Oh my gooooooodness.  I have literally cried at times over joint pain. I know a lot was in part to intense workouts and using kickboxing bags over the years, but obviously inflammation from toxic foods was an issue.  Yay, for not feeling twice my age anymore. My knees aren't even cracking as I walk upstairs : )

• Cravings: I'm doing way better without my coffee/chai lattes than I expected. I thought that the Keurig my husband got me for my birthday would be making me drool, but it's been fine.  I'm enjoying my Arbonne Detox tea just fine.

• Energy: My energy levels have wavered due to the detoxification process, but the natural energy drinks (Arbonne Fizz Sticks) have helped a lot in that area due to the B vitamins and guarine.  I have been too apprehensive to try energy drinks before now, but these are all natural with no artificial sweeteners, colors or BVOs and work great to give an all natural boost.

• Supplements: I'm loving the protein shakes.  They are delicious and filling. The Arbonne vegan protein powder is the best I've ever tried and I have tried A LOT of protein powders over the years in an attempt to supplement my vegetarian lifestyle and gain lean muscle from weight training.  Many of those unfortunately contained artificial sweeteners, flavors and soy.  All things I am now trying to avoid.  

• Learning: I'm enjoying new "clean" recipes that I've been making for dinner.

• Weight/inches: As a bonus, I've already lost 2lbs (post 5 pregnancy weight) and an inch or so around the middle. 

Looking forward to seeing more positive changes during week 2.  Stay tuned for an update ; )

Have you ever tried a detox?  What changes did you experience?

* These comments are my personal and true experiences.  This is not to take place of or act as medical advice. Please consult your physician for any nutritional plans or diets.  I was a client for eight years, but have recently become an Independent Consultant for Arbonne to help others experience their pure, safe and beneficial products.  If you are interested in more information or would like to know how to shop their products for a discount, leave a comment in the comment section. Check out Arbonne and/or order (ID #14414570).