Lean Cuisine Salad Additions (Southwest-Style Chicken) Review

Reviewed by Tanya Patrice | May 13, 2013
Rating:

The other day I spotted Lean Cuisine Salad Additions and curiosity gripped me tight. I try to eat a salad at least once a day, but I'm not very creative, so I was excited to see what the Southwest-Style Chicken Salad Additions would be like.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1 pkg (202 grams)
Calories: 260
Total Fat: 9 grams, 14%
Saturated Fat: 1.5 grams, 8%
Sodium: 590 mg, 25%
Carbohydrates: 26 grams, 9%
Fiber: 4 grams, 16%
Sugars: 5 grams
Protein: 18 grams

Inside the packaging are 3 pouches. One has the dressing, frozen since this product is kept in the freezer. There's also a package containing the chicken, black beans, corn and peppers; and another with tri-color tortilla strips. The directions are pretty straight forward. Put the frozen "chipotle ranch" dressing in water to thaw, microwave the pouch with the chicken, then add this to a bowl with lettuce (which you provide) along with the now thawed salad dressing and tortilla strips.

The result is visually striking and I have to say, it tastes as good as it looks. The chicken is tender yet still firm, and all the ingredients work well together. The dressing is a little spicy, which is expected of something that bills itself as "Southwest-style" and I must say I enjoyed the amped up salad.

Each package of Lean Cuisine Southwest-Style Chicken Salad Additions provides 260 calories from 9 grams of total fat, 1.5 grams of which is saturated (14% and 9% of the daily value), 590 mg sodium (25% of the DV), 4 grams of fiber (16% of the DV), 5 grams of sugars and 18 grams of protein.

Right now there is a printable coupon to get $1.00 off the purchase of 3 varieties of Lean Cuisine Salad Additions at Target, where it retails for $2.39. I really enjoyed the Southwest-Style Chicken and I'll be using the coupon to try some of the other varieties. I wonder which will be my favorite?

{Website: Lean Cuisine Salad Additions}

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This will take couch-azzing to a whole ‘nother level

Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.

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Inner Thighs Workout

Those darn thighs. They’re a nagging trouble zone for a lot of us wonderful peoples. Including me! Let’s work our thighs, baby. Let’s get ‘em sleek & sculpted together…

Inner Thighs: FULL WORKOUT

There are two rounds in the circuit. Each round consists of 4 inner thigh exercises:

10 reps frog legs onto tip-toes10 pulses elevated side leg lifts (then switch sides)8 reps leg scissors pulse (3 low-end pulses, then legs up, equals 1 rep)8 reps low-end plie’ pulses (3 low-end pulses, then stand up, equals 1 rep)

INSTRUCTIONS, MODIFICATIONS & PROPER FORM

1. Frog Legs onto Tip-Toes: With legs a little more than shoulder width apart, crouch down to assume a frog position. Then stand up onto tip-toes. This will require you to balance by engaging your core and keeping your legs strong. To modify the move, go down only as far as you can and/or do not go onto your tip toes on the way back up to standing.

2. Elevated Side Leg Lifts: Lay on your side with legs at a slight 45-degree angle. Place your top leg behind you in a bent-knee position. Lift hips up off the floor and begin an 8-count pulse with the other leg. Because your hips are off the floor, you will need to engage your core to stay stable and prevent from falling over.  For the leg that’s bent, drive that heel into the floor and keep your leg tight. Your bent leg will also feel it in the inner thigh. To modify the move, keep your hips on the floor. Be sure to switch sides to work the other leg for an 8-count.

3. Low-End Pulse Leg Scissors: Lift both legs up at 90-degree angle. Open legs wide with your heels slightly pointed in and pulse the legs in the low-end position for a 3-count. Bring your legs back up and your cross the ankles, left over right. This is one rep. Complete the 3-count pulse again, this time, crossing with the ankle, right over left, when you bring the legs back up. To modify the move, pulse down once (instead of 3 times) before you bring your legs back up.

4. Dumbbell Plie’ Pulses: Legs wide and feet at 45-degree angle (or more, if it’s comfortable). You will naturally have a slight bend forward as you plie’ down, but don’t hunch your back or lean over too much. Keep your neck in line with spine and engage your core. Pulse down 3 times as you lower the dumbbell. As you come back up, raise the dumbbell for a bicep curl, being sure to keep your elbows by your sides. To modify the move, ditch the dumbbell and/or pulse down once (instead of 3 times) before you come back up.

For more of a challenge on any of these move, increase reps and/or pulses, but do NOT sacrifice good form for higher reps.

EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST

v 10-pound dumbbell (or heavier) for plie’ pulses. I used a 20-pound dumbbell.

POST WORKOUT RECOVERY & NUTRITION

Healthy sources of protein are necessary for muscle building and muscle recovery. Greek yogurt, protein powder, eggs, beans, chicken, fish, lean cuts of beef and Shakeology are all excellent sources of healthy protein. But go easy on that cheese!

v HOME WORKOUT CENTRAL

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Scenes from my Sensational Mother’s Day Sunday

Today started with all three boys ready to seize the day.

I put the 7-year-old right to work on his laundry.

I’m starting a new house strategy where everyone (minus the 2-year-old) is responsible for their own laundry. He folded and put it all away himself. He also helped me clean the basement.

For breakfast I made some amazing oatmeal. Both boys are huge fans!

Most of the morning the boys were outside playing and doing yard work while I straightened up and relaxed.

I did entice the 2-year-old in with my fresh, ripe pineapple.

But he only pretended to eat it.

The little bugger still doesn’t like most fruit. 

I ended up making a fabulous green smoothie with it, some spinach and a banana.

I’ll post it on GreenLiteBites tomorrow when I get a chance. It came out WAY better then I expected.

The 7-year-old and I took a minute to finally update our calendar that still said “February” on it.

Then we went grocery shopping as a family.

When we got back, the boys made ME dinner!

You have no idea how amazing of a Mother’s Day gift this was! The Husband is not a cook. It’s just not something he does, but he recently took a cooking class with me in Vermont and it built up his confidence a bit.

One the menu: Ricotta Gnocchi with a Tomato Basil Sauce, from scratch!

I decided to go for a quick run just to fight the urge to take over in the kitchen.

On my run I wore a Brady Band to see if they really are non-slip and I have to admit: I’m impressed!

I wore it all night and that little bugger didn’t move. The company asked if I’d help promote after they had some failed campaigns. I told them to send me a few to try and I’d see what I can do.

Now I have to figure out what I can do. lol

When I got back from my run, The Husband was still hard at work in the kitchen. He even cut me some cucumbers as an appetizer.

The final dish was AMAZING!

We are going to make them again so I can share the recipe in more detail on GreenLiteBites, but I have a few minor tweaks I want to try first.

Both kids LOVED them!

For dessert….

Sinful! The Husband knows me so well. :)

After dinner we headed to the park.

And practiced some tennis.

It’s so fun doing more and more active things with the kids. Sometimes I feel bad for the 2-year-old because he tries to hard to be like his big brother but he usually ends up content just being in the middle of things.

We came home, watched Survivor and am now catching up on Game of Thrones and then Mad Men. Sunday night is my favorite night for TV right now. :)

Hope you had a great weekend!

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Street Strider Summit 8r: final thoughts.

DiZclosure: The Street Strider was sent to me for review. The fact I ADORE it and have harnessed its magical powers to make friends in my new ‘hood are both my own.

When last we met Id JUST learned to Street Stride on my Summit 8r.

For me it was a *shockingly* swift process.

About a ten minute “wait do I get this?!” a sudden OOOH I GET THIS!!! and Ive been happily striding and gear shifting on my Summit 8r ever since.

Like always ever since.

I used to walk to school pick up—- now I Stride to the school to procure the child:

I enjoy the creative cardio and she LOVES I come STRIDE to get her that way.

(Shouts of OK YOU GOTTA SEE MY MOM DO THE HILLS. GO MAMA GO!!!! may or may not ensue. daily. to the the delight of her classmates and their big people)

This has been my view the majority of the past few months—and I adore it.

Strider Smitten.

That said, since my response of IT. BE. AWESOME. when asked how I like the Street Strider has *always* been met with more questions (shocking. I know.) I decided to break it down into specifics.

The bullet-pointed reasons I think the Strider ROCKS.

It’s unique. I love the look and feel of the Street Strider. I love not everyone on the streets has one. I love the unique way it works my bod. which leads me to…I adore the body benefits. The Street Strider is no impact and works my whole body simultaneously. I needed the glute work. I NEEDED the core work. My quads had been kinda lacking. I LOVE how this elliptical on wheels is fun while concurrently increasing my fitness level. Im ANTI-WORKOUT and the Strider is the ultimate PLAYout. Ohhh which leads me next to…It’s cardio I *want* to do. So much so I never refer to it as cardio. Simply getting on the Strider brightens my mood. The sweet, sweet feeling of freedom striding brings does NOT feel like exercising. It’s fun—-with body benefits. And it’s OUTDOORS. Stride away from the screens, People! Stride away from the screens!!! But just in case you love your screens:Theres an option for indoor use. Im fortunate to live where there’s no real winter. If youre not it’s as easy as snagging an indoor trainer to Stride inside until warmer weather arrives.Monthly payment options. Im super cheap—UNTIL IT COMES TO HEALTHY LIVING. Food. Shoes. Cardio stuff. Im good to me. The only item I ever bought I couldnt afford at the time was my last cardio piece. I charged it and paid it off. The Street Strider monthly payment options are so so so worth it. It’s like a gym membership–but less limiting and you OWN SOMETHING at the end!

What I’d change about the Strider if I could:

Initially Id have said quick collapse—but usage changed my mind. I used the Strider. Up hills. Down hills. In traffic. Weaving around parked cars. I was grateful the Strider didnt compress as I couldnt imagine they’d be able to maintain the same solid structure. I feel *safe* on the Strider. Cycling friends repeatedly remark on its QUALITY of manufacturing. I cant help but think collapsible would equal less quality.You could ALL come to my house & try it. But now you can. Kind of. Street Strider offers everyone a testSTRIDE at stores which carry them (check here for details). The Tornado is begging to test out the kids version. Ive resisted for now as I know there’s no way we’d leave without owning one… this is how I look 90% of the time!

Heres where I give my TREMENDOUS thank you thank you to Street Strider for helping me put the FUN back in carFUNdio.

I love.

I love.

Tags: carFUNdio?, creative cardio, street strider summit 8r

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Lean Cuisine Asian-Style Pot Stickers Review

Reviewed by Tanya Patrice | May 17, 2013
Rating:

Lean Cuisine describes their Asian-Style Pot Stickers meal as, "chicken and vegetable dumplings with rice in an Asian-style dipping sauce." I first reviewed these back in January 2009, but I remember it being one of my favorite Lean Cuisine meals, so I felt an update was in order, with a picture of the actual product and updating the nutrition facts.

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1 pkg (255 grams)
Calories: 280
Total Fat: 3.5 grams, 5%
Saturated Fat: 1 gram, 5%
Sodium: 530 mg, 22%
Carbohydrates: 52 grams, 17%
Fiber: 3 grams, 12%
Sugars: 9 grams
Protein: 9 grams

The heating directions say to microwave at 50% power for 8-9 minutes, which I didn't do - I have no idea how to adjust the power settings on the microwave, and I wasn't interested in trying to figure it out. Instead, I just let the microwave do it's thing for 4 minutes, and the Lean Cuisine Asian-Style Pot Stickers was just as good. The pot-sticker dumplings are tender, firm, yet chewy and the the chicken and vegetable filling is slightly salty in contrast to the sweet dipping sauce. My taste buds were loving this! The rice and veggie mix proved to be a solid partner with the pot stickers - of which there was only 5 - so all too soon, this meal was finished. Naturally of course, since I don't think most frozen meals are filling on their own, I had some veggies on the side.

One package of Lean Cuisine Asian-Style Pot Stickers provides 280 calories and 3.5 grams of total fat, 1 gram of which is saturated (both are 5% of the daily value). There is also 530 milligrams of sodium (22% of the DV), 9 grams of protein, 3 grams of dietary fiber (12% of the DV) and 9 grams of sugars. The ingredients list is not too lengthy and the components are readily identifiable.

I paid $2.20 for a package of Lean Cuisine Asian-Style Pot Stickers (on sale), and it was money well spent as I really liked the taste of the meal.

{Website: Lean Cuisine}

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Obesity Awareness: Are We Numb?

When you blog consistently for 8 years, funny stuff start to happen, like people sending emails asking you random things.

Can you review our product? Do you mind checking out my site? We’d love to host a giveaway for your readers.  Would you like to interview so-and-so-trainer-you-never-heard-of they have a book coming out. Blah, blah, blah. 

Hey, I’m not complaining. I’m flattered and honestly, it’s a good “problem” to have.

I do my best to keep up, responding to the ones that seem to have come from another human being. Sometimes conversations ensue.

Recently Malene of TravelTheUnitedStates.wordpress.com reached out about her Obesity Awareness campaign. I was intrigued, but see, I have an issue with the concept of “Obesity Awareness.”

In all honestly, I hate that word/phrase and the way traditional media flings it around shoving facts and figures down our throats.  So I  responded to Malene and thought I’d share our conversation here because I may be silly. I’m sure you’ll tell me. Right?

 Dear Roni, (Yes, I did dig to find your email address)

On July 20th I start to walk around the US, an 9000 mile walk, to raise awareness about obesity.

When was the last time you saw an obesity awareness event that does not blame those who weigh too much? And, when was the last time you saw that same event aim to inspire, empower and provide fabulous free resources to anyone who wants to lose weight?

This is what I will do, and I could so use your help!

First of all of course, because I want my message to get out there. It is important for me to aid in an constructive conversation about obesity. I want to challenge the stigma and the discrimination. I want to humanize people who deals with overweight. I want to empower everyone who wants to live healthier.

See, part of my walk is for fund raising. I am fund raising for LiveFit Revolution an 501(3c) charity that gives us all the resources we need to lose weight completely free of charge. I really want to see this amazing resource go to the next level.

I also have to admit that without fund raising, I don’t get to walk. I don’t have the cash to fund this myself so I need to raise the money to start walking.

I would be so grateful if you would consider featuring something about my walk on your blog and with your readers. As a blogger yourself, I am sure you know the struggles for new bloggers of getting what they write seen.

Here is my blog: https://traveltheunitedstates.wordpress.com/

Thank you so much in advance,

Malene

Note: Her joke about digging to find my email cracks me up as it’s hidden on my FAQ page in hopes of curbing some of the email. I put it there over 5 years ago and totally forgot about it.

My response…

Hi Malene!

What an adventure!! So exciting!

I think what you’re doing is great but honestly I tend to avoid promoting campaigns that tout obesity awareness. I talk a little about why in this post.. http://ronisweigh.com/2012/05/sharing-the-skinny-on-obesity.html

We have almost too much “obesity awareness” in the media. Once that word gets thrown in the mix I feel like people shut down. We’re callous to it as a culture. Numb.

I’d love your thoughts on this as I wold love to support you any way I can, but like I said, I tend to cringe at obesity campaigns. We don’t need more numbers thrown in our faces, we need to work on changing our culture in a much deeper way.

Just my thoughts,

Roni

After I hit send I realized I sound like a lunatic offering unsolicited advice and shoving my opinion down her face, but she responded anyway!

Hey Roni,

Thank you so much for getting back to me and for your thoughts on “obesity awareness campaigns”.

Your comment that you have no desire to fight it out with the “fat acceptance” people really stuck with me. I had one very uncomfortable situation with people telling me that I contributed to the stigma of obesity because I wanted to fight against it, and I really do not want to spend one single minute of this endeavor on that side of the political discussion. I am not quite sure how to avoid this, but your mentioning that concern just crystallized for me that I have to put some thought in to that. I would love to hear something about how you avoided that conflict, because as mentioned I fell full on, headfirst into it a few days ago.

You are right that we see a lot of conversation about the “obesity epidemic” in the media, but I really think those conversations are very unhelpful. In fact, I think they increase the stigma of being obese, and I want to challenge them on my walk, not perpetuate them. I am hoping that when it comes to the media the excitement of my adventure, the pure scale of walking 9000 mile, especially starting at my size, will add a different note to the discussion.

All of the obesity awareness I see from the media or other places focuses directly or indirectly on blaming people for the excess weight. As I experience the conversation attention is exclusively focused on what we eat and how we exercise.

My message is a little different. As someone who has struggled with my weight throughout my life I want to focus a lot of attention on taking away the stigma and the blame. I do this for a number of reasons:

If we feel guilty about our weight then the shame makes it harder to lose weightThe discrimination we face every single day in society due to our weight is – well – it is what discrimination always is.If we blame those who struggle with their weight for their troubles then we don’t have to care about it.Due to this discrimination there are exceedingly few fund raisers, or constructive help available for people with weight issues unless they can pay for the help themselves.The one biggest predictor of weight issues is poverty so a lot of overweight people can’t pay for the help they needI actually believe that issues with our weight are a LOT more complex than to just focus on diet and exercise.

My message is that obesity is a complex medical, hormonal, genetic, emotional and life style based condition. Since life style is only one aspect of obesity it makes no sense to blame the overweight person.

It is a condition that we can take full control over through our life style choices of healthy eating and exercise. It is my goal to empower myself and others to get better at making those choices throughout my walk. If we have the tendency towards obesity then the life style choices we have to make in order to fight back might have to be a little more regimented than someone who does not have that tendency, but really my main focus will be on healthy, unprocessed foods and the enjoyment of moving.

I don’t say this to focus away from personal responsibility. I think we all have the responsibility to live as healthy lives as we can. As mentioned above I just really believe that the discrimination and stigma of obesity has taken a horrible turn.

More than anything I want to take a fun, exciting adventure, involve as many people as possible and make weight loss and a healthy life style something that is approachable for anyone. I want to empower people to think of their dreams and to take steps to realize those  dreams. I want to put the joy into moving. I want to put pure pleasure into the best of normal foods. Life is hard for people who struggle with extreme obesity, and I want to show myself and everyone else that it is possible to stop struggling and start living. I want to show people who are obese as strong human beings with their own dreams and aspirations, abilities and strengths. I want to kick the yucky, overly processed, ever so disgusting foods to the curb and label them as the inedible yuck that they are.

So, should I use some other word than obesity awareness? It seemed to cover what my intention is, but I am open to suggestions.

Thank you again for your email. I really hope you find something in my email that speaks to you, and that you are willing to feature something about my walk.

The only way I knew how to respond was with more of my opinions. Geesh, I’m kind of a jerk.

I totally understand your message as it’s similar to my own. I just think when you throw the word “obesity” in there it…

Gives the media more fuel for their fire allowing them to skew it the way they always doGives the fat acceptance people something to be angry about (as you already experienced)Turns off folks who do see it solely as personal responsibility.

I’m not sure what the answer is or what else you could call it but I think it would help to come up with something catchy that avoids the dreaded “o” word.

Again, only my opinion. Feel free to ignore the crazy blogger lady. :)

She was so nice to reply again and her response gave me an idea.

Hey Roni,

I definitely appreciate your feedback. It seems I unknowingly, and unintentionally stepped in to a mine field. I will have to spend some time on fine tuning my message, and truly it probably won’t be completely fine tuned until I hit the road and start to interact with larger numbers of people. In the end, if I focus on my walk and on empowerment, I can’t go wrong. At the moment I do focus some one the numbers around obesity, because I feel it might help motivate some to get involved, but that is actually already starting to change as I am finally getting speaking engagements.

I suppose, in the end, this will be part of the conversation I aim to have, and that just might be a great thing.

In the mean time I would still be so grateful for any and all support you can offer me. I need to get the word out there about my walk to as broad an audience as possible.

Why not share our conversation here on the blog and see what you guys think!

She agreed and here we are.

Am I being too sensitive? Honestly, every time I see someone spewing obesity stats I cringe. My gut reaction is: How is this helping anyone? We can continue talk about it or we can DO something.

Malene is DOING something and I think that’s pretty cool.

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Skechers Go Walks: Prepare for a footgasm, my peoples.

I bought my Skechers Go Walks last spring. I had a footgasm the first time I put them on. Now season #2 has arrived and my feet are still feeling luxurious. These slip-on sneaks may not seem like a big deal at first glance, but you GOTTA try these things on.

Last season I told you they feel like a fluffy cloud on my feet. Then I taught you how to clean a pair of Go Walks.

I wore them a ton last season, whether it was after work, going shopping, or just hanging out. They held up with fantastic durability. The soles are intact with no crazy wear & tear. There is no fraying or splitting at the seams, and the insoles have maintained their ability to deliver that fluffy feeling.

Bendy, flexy, extremely lightweight and cushy. Those are just a few words to describe the feeling of Go Walks. The comfort is outta this world. I promise! This year they came out with a bunch more colors to match your bubbly-fantastic personality.

It’s unfortunate that I feel kinda commercial-ish when I talk about Go Walks, but what choice do I have? I freaking LOVE these shoes! And they’re even available for the men-folk now.

If you’re chillin’ at the mall and happen to wander by a store that carries Go Walks, just lollygag on in there and try a pair on. If you then feel I’m wrong about Go Walks, you can slay me with me 10,000 bitch slaps of disgruntlement. I will gladly take my lashings for leading you astray.

Gray is cool, but I need more pairs. I’m seriously ready to get colorful. Hot dang, I love these shoes.

Skechers Go Walk reviews on Amazon

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How to brew KOMBUCHA (guest post).

Well Hello. I have to say, I am excited to write a guest post about Kombucha for Carla today. You know what that means, right? I’ve finally been termed a “booch mamma!” That, my friends, is name I will do my best to hold high!

So let’s get back to real purpose of this post, KOMBUCHA! Kombucha has been a HUGE life saver in my life and for so many reasons, and needless to say, I am passionate about it! So I thought I’d share some of the ABC’s of Kombucha and how to brew it. Stick with me here, k?

A. What is it? – fermented tea, an ancient elixir consumed for thousands of years by civilizations all over the planet.

B. What are its benefits? – Kombucha Kamp has a great article on the benefits of Kombucha. Here are just a few that I have noticed in my own consumption.

i. *Probiotics – healthy bacteria
*Alkalinize the body – balances internal pH
*Detoxify the liver – happy liver = happy mood
*Increase metabolism – rev your internal engine
*Improve digestion – keep your system moving
*Alleviate constipation
*Boost energy – helps with chronic fatigue
*Relieve headaches & migraines
*Reduce kidney stones
*High in antioxidants – destroy free-radicals that cause cancer
*High in polyphenols
*Heal excema – can be applied topically to soften the skin
*Lower glucose levels – prevents spiking from eating

b. Want more? Check out the studies and testimonials HERE!

C. How? – It is recommended that you should start drinking 4-8oz of Kombucha on an empty stomach 2x a day followed by plenty of water to clear out all the toxins. Once your body has adjusted to it (over an extended period of time), you can increase your intake.

Okay, now that you have an overwhelming amount of information. Let me tell you a little bit of how I use it and why.

You see, for years I had been struggling with a lot of digestive issues from a parasite and a gluten intolerance. I turned to kombucha for gut healing (along with other natural supplements). I had been drinking it on occasion before, but this time I decided to use it for more of healing reasons.

It was also about that time that I decided to start making my own batches. I spoke with Hannah over at KombuchaKamp.com a lot and she guided me through the process. After a few weeks, I had my own scoby and was ready to brew!

Here’s my BREWING tutorial. I have gathered this from lots of other websites and tweaked it to make my own flavoring. I’ll type out the instructions below as well. Let me know if you brew!

You can easily buy a starter kit online or even buy a scoby from craigslist. Just make sure they are not moldy or damaged when you buy them. Once you have a mother scoby, you are ready to brew.

KOMBUCHA – Here’s How:
1.Wash all utensils with hot sudsy water and rinse well.

2. Boil three quarts of purified water.

3. Add 1 cup white sugar to water when a rolling boil is reached. Boil water and sugar for five minutes.

4. Turn off heat and add 4-5 tea bags of black and/or green tea. (Must have caffeine in tea which the scoby feeds on).

5. Steep about 30 minutes and remove tea leaves or bags and let tea cool (it doesn’t hurt to steep the tea longer). Cooling is about 3 to 5 hours from time you turn stove off.

6. Pour cooled tea into gallon size glass container.

7. Add your Kombucha culture placing it so that the smooth shiny surface lies up. Add fermented Kombucha Tea from a previous batch.

8. Place a cloth over the top of the jar and secure with a rubber band. This keeps dust, mold, spores and vinegar flies out of the fermenting tea.

9. Allow to sit undisturbed in a well ventilated and darkened place away from direct sunlight (temp. 65-90 degrees F.) for 6 – 15 days. I keep mine in a closet.

10. To make sure the tea is ready to harvest; pour off a couple of ounces for a taste test. I usually test it by sticking a plastic straw in and sipping a little bit.

11. Taste Test: A taste test on a batch of Kombucha Tea may taste like this: 4-6 Days – Too sweet, not all sugar converted. 7-9 Days – Tastes like sparkling apple cider. 10+ Days – Vinegar taste becoming prominent.

12. When the tea is brewed to your taste, pour the tea into glass bottles and cap then place in the refrigerator. This can now be second fermented with fresh juices, or pieces of crushed fruit, or crystallized ginger. Store bought juices are pasteurized and may effect healing quality of finished kombucha product, so I’d stick with 100% fresh juice. Sometimes I use sparkling water too.

13. Make sure to leave enough starter tea from your last batch (about 1/2 cup) to make another batch of tea. Repeat directions and add this to your starter and culture to start the process again.

**Note: the cultures my float on the surface or sometimes it sinks to the bottom. Either way is fine.

To this day I still think of it as my healing tonic. I drink 16-20 ounces a day. Yes, this seems like a lot but my body is used to and can handle a higher dosage.

My Newbie Tips:

· It definitely takes an acquired taste, so be open minded. · If you would rather buy Kombucha to try out first, look for fruity flavors. These have added natural juices to them, like GT’s cranberry, passionberry, or strawberry. It will help you get used to the taste. Even though I’ve ALWAYS loved the taste. I am weird like that though. J· Drink 4onces at a time to begin. Maybe just try a little mid morning or afternoon. Sometime during the day where you usually need a little boost.· Give it time! Drink slowly and allow its natural detox benefits to nourish your body. Try it for a week before knockin’ it!· And finally, BE GENTLE! Kombucha needs care. It is carbonated do not shake the bottle and open slowly. I’ve had some dangerous explosions, and as much as I like Kombucha, my clothes do not.

Alright, I’m off to go finish my last bottle. Better brew again tomorrow! Feel free to email me with any questions. And thank you Carla for letting me blab away about scobys and smelly tea.

Other resources: Kombucha Kamp and You Grow Girl.

Cheers,

LC

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NO APOLOGIES running! (guest post)

MizFit note: I LOVED THIS BOOK.

Tennyson said that in spring, a young man’s fancy turns to love, and this may be true for men, but for most women I know, in spring, our thoughts turn to exercise.

After the pale, sluggish winter retreats, our pale, sluggish thighs emerge, and something must be done about them before beach season arrives in force. Since nobody really wants to eat less, all that’s left to do is exercise, so we can lose 35 pounds and keep it off, like Carla did.
But when you look like Carla, it’s much easier to go outside and run around scantily clad. It’s tougher for those of us who look more like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

I applaud and embrace Carla’s motto — Unapologetically Myself – but some days it takes a Woman of Steel to go forth and exercise in public when there’s no visible steel in you, just Upper Arms of Jelly.

“How long does it take before the embarrassment of running goes away?” someone recently asked me. I think she was hoping I would say “one week, four hours” or “the minute you get past your mailbox.”

I wish I could have.

But the truth is, I’ve been running for more than 25 years, am pretty damned good at it, and yet there still are days that I’m embarrassed. Usually, these are days in which I make the enormous, soul-slaying mistake of LOOKING IN A MIRROR.

This is pretty much always a bad idea. Because most American women, no matter what size they are, think they are fat.

I wrote a book about being a fat runner, and every time I give a talk on the subject, some beautiful lissome creature will come up to me afterwards, and whisper to me, “I’m a size 4, but I feel so fat.”

Fat is a state of mind, not a number on scale.

When I first started running, I weighed around 180 pounds, and felt thick and slow and walrusy. But I stuck with it, and after a while, I lost about 30 pounds and felt thin.

Then I got pregnant, not once but four times, and in my last pregnancy, I topped 220 pounds. Losing 40 pounds was arduous with three kids and a newborn, but when I got to 180, let me tell you, I felt THIN.

See?

The deception can work both ways. Personally, I think reality is highly overrated, particularly when it keeps me from experiencing the joy of endorphins.

Knowing that regardless what the reality is – that I can have a “walrus day” even if I lose 50 pounds and am solidly gazelle — I’ve come up with a strategy for combating my walrus days. Mine involves sunglasses, a baseball cap, and a pair of fingerless bicycling gloves.

The sunglasses and the baseball cap, of course, are classic disguises. So what if you look fat? Nobody will know who you are!

The bicycle gloves? Hell if I know. But they make me feel powerful and tough.

Everyone has something that makes them feel powerful and tough. Or at least they should. A tattoo, a wicked-bad pedicure, a toe ring, a nose ring … whatever… just something that screams Unapologetically Myself, in those times that, for whatever reason, you yourself can’t.

Put that thing on, and out the door you go.

Am I really a tough, warrior athlete when I’m strutting down the street with my pale, slow thighs rubbing together like a couple of lovesick Honeybaked hams? Nah, it’s just marshmallowy ol’ me, baffling passers-by with my bicycle gloves, and quite possibly looking rather silly. But sometimes the feeling matters more than reality, and in the end, I win.

I get the endorphins.

I get outside.

Reality is highly overrated.

The FABULOUS Jennifer Graham is the author of Honey, Do You Need a Ride? Confessions of a Fat Runner, published by Breakaway Books. Follow her on Twitter, on Facebook, or check her out her running blog.

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A Relaxing Sensational Sunday

My morning started quietly. I had a good hour to get some work done before the kids woke up allowing me to finish my grilled mushroom and onion post for GreenLiteBites.

Notice my desk. I just canNOT keep it clean. It’s getting quite ridiculous.

Anyway, just as I was finishing up, this Little Guy was calling my name.

Well, sort of, it’s more of a, “Maaaa”

The Little Bugger still won’t talk.

We had a pretty laid back morning.

I learned all about Money Quest while straightening up.

The boys joined Dad for some lounging time.

We watched a bit of TV.

Had a bacon and eggs brunch.

Danced around like lunatics while cleaning.

Played War.

Then I left the boys and had lunch with my friend and travel blogger buddy Jen.
I had a torta and it was AMAZING!

Chicken, avocado, lettuce, jalapeño peppers. Wow. Just wow. I ordered it because it was the only thing on the menu I didn’t recognize and I have this must-try-new-things gene.

I came home to this.

The era of video games has begun and The Husband couldn’t be happier.

We then had some fun with the foam roller.

before heading to the park.

We decided to grab dinner at a local fast food place. Probably not the best choice but we were having a blast.

We spent the rest of the night playing the opposite game (where you say the opposite of what you really mean) while having ice cream in the car. It was one of those fun family moments I refuse to take for granted.

We put the kids to bed and are now settled in to watch our Sunday night TV. I’m just trying to stay out of the pantry as I have a case of the munchies. This always happens when my diet gets a little too “carby.”

I think I’ll make a cup of tea.

Hope you had a great weekend!

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