Healthier Lifestyle Tips

• Hello again, savvy savers! Today I am starting another new blog series, Battle Of The Bulge, Budget-Style! I will be focusing on ways to live a healthier, more active lifestyle while be able to afford clean, organic, obtainable foods! I believe this series can be worthwhile for many, who like myself, wish to get more in shape, not through crash-dieting but by small attainable lifestyle changes!  All of the changes I propose will be free or affordable, and most meals and plans will contain couponed savings or deals! Fads are fancy, but coupons are a commitment! With that said, here is where I am currently: I have a family history of high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. I am looking to lose 60 lbs., find affordable non-gym membership options for working out, and change the way I consume food; this includes meals, snacks, and splurges!

Today I am 31 years young, I am 5’6”, and weigh 199 lbs; I am down two pounds since last week. I walk my dogs but beyond this am not terribly active. My lifestyle causes sedentary behaviors; I work-from-home, blog, run two internet businesses, and perform advocacy work online as well. I am an internet-based excuser! Today finds my continued yoga, meditation, walking my dogs, using a pedometer, portioning my meals, and now I also measure myself monthly!

For my 10th post, I wanted to discuss a new lifestyle strategy I have implemented, monthly measurement logs. Using a seamstress tape, I measure my neck, arms, bust, waist, hips, thighs, and calves, then log my progress each month, good or bad, to see a visible result of my diet strategy. I have found this method daunting at first, but now, in my weight lose, find that seeing my actual results, is amazing and euphoric!

More reasons to measure yourself monthly, as part of a healthy lifestyle plan are:

• There are the best ways to track yourself OTHER than a scale! I generally do not weigh myself. I find that in the process of both losing weight and toning up, there will be periods where you will not show progress on a scale, but you will have instant results when using seamstress tape!
• A photo is worth a thousand words.  Stand in front of a mirror in a bathing suit or your underwear with your cell phone camera and take a picture.  Then turn to the side and take another picture of your profile view.  Store your photos in an album on your computer, and over time, using a slideshow, you will see results more effectively and concretely than by way of a scale; between each segment of photos show a photo of your seamstress tape measurements for effective record keeping.
• Take stock in your measurements.  Your seamstress tape will help you pinpoint areas of weight lose success. Be sure to measure the following areas:

-Neck: this will help you see immediate water lose weight.
-Shoulders: this will help you see toning results further into your weight lose.
-Chest: this will help you see toning results further into your weight lose; for women bust reduction is also a great indicator of carb ad fat reduction as well.
-Biceps: this will help you see toning results further into your weight lose.
-Waist: this will help you see immediate results, by way of clothe sizing.
-Hips: this will help you see toning results further into your weight lose.
-Thighs: this will help you see toning results further into your weight lose.

You will be surprised at how an inch lose in any of these areas will alter the way your clothes will fit, your attitude will change, and you health will better!

I highly recommend pushing your boundaries to the side, and see how you measure up to your own personal, obtainable healthy lifestyle goals!

Here’s to the Journey!

Hello again, savvy savers! Today finds us with another great Boxed Subscription review, and this time the July 2014 Bulu Box!

• The Bulu Box is a health-inspired subscription box, and one of my favorite services.
• Like most subscription boxes, Bulu also includes a few cards on the product and the theme of the month.
• Included in the July box was the  Beanfields Bean & Rice Chips in Barbecue flavor. These were really good; and had a retail value of $3.00.
• Next up was a mini protein bar by Power Crunch, in vanilla creme, which was very tasty, crispy, and light, and my favorite of the box; this product had a retail value of $1.79.
• The next item in the box was an herbal sleep aid by bioterra herbs; these pills have worked well, without any side-effects, and had a retail value of $7.00.
• The box also included the antiseptci spray, Wounds by Puracyn; I have used this before and its awesome, and had a retail value of $12.50
• Next up were samples of herbal teas for use during diets and menopause; retail value of $1.50 per bag.
• The last item in the box was Chike high protein coffee mix. This has protein and espresso; the retail value of this product is $1.50.
• Overall, the Bulu Box had a great selection of products.  Based on my calculations this box was worth $31.69, and is a great value considering the subscription service costs $15.00 quarterly, and only $5.00 per box!
• Overall Score: 4/5

You can join Bulu Box today with a 50% off coupon and get your first box for only $5 with code BULUGAN097 – or opt for a multiple month subscriptions with the same discount (get 12 months for only $55!).

Be sure to stay tuned next Monday for a preview of the August Bulu Box!

Here’s to your health!

In accordance with FTC Guidelines: I hereby disclose that I received complimentary products from the company being reviewed above, in exchange for my honest opinion and review of my experience.  I was not compensated for this review, but received a free membership. All opinions in the post are 100% my own. Individual results or experiences may vary. Please consult your physician, dietitian, or diabetes specialist before starting any diet. You can obtain more details information about the company, its products, and policies by visiting their respective websites, which will be linked above.

Hello again, savvy savers! Today I am starting another new blog series, Battle Of The Bulge, Budget-Style! I will be focusing on ways to live a healthier, more active lifestyle while be able to afford clean, organic, obtainable foods! I believe this series can be worthwhile for many, who like myself, wish to get more in shape, not through crash-dieting but by small attainable lifestyle changes!  All of the changes I propose will be free or affordable, and most meals and plans will contain couponed savings or deals! Fads are fancy, but coupons are a commitment! With that said, here is where I am currently: I have a family history of high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. I am looking to lose 60lbs., find affordable non-gym membership options for working out, and change the way I consume food; this includes meals, snacks, and splurges!

Today I am 31 years young, I am 5’6”, and weigh 201 lbs; I am down three pounds since last week. I walk my dogs but beyond this am not terribly active. My lifestyle causes sedentary behaviors; I work-from-home, blog, run two internet businesses, and perform advocacy work online as well. I am an internet-based excuser! Today this changes! Spring has sprung, and so shall I! I have taken up yoga, and have started working out with a pedometer on as well!

For my fourth post, I wanted to discuss a new measure I have implemented to help in my food portion control, measuring cups. This may sound very rudimentary, but I have found this very effective. I use a 1 and 2 cup pyrex measuring glass to measure out the portions of food I eat each meal at home. I purchased my cups, for free, on Amazon.com using survey-derived gift cards, but similar versions are available at the Dollar Tree.

Here is a guide I use in doing so:

1) Foods that should be served in 1 cup servings: Raw vegetables, cooked or raw fruit,

2)  Food that should be served in 1/4 cup servings: Cooked vegetables, Dried Fruit, Waffles,

3) Foods that should be eaten in 1/2 cup servings: Whole Fruit, Canned Chicken or Tuna, Prepared Salads, Meats, Poultry, Eggs.

4) Foods that should be eaten in 2/3 cup servings: Fruit Juice, Yogurt, Milk, Potatoes, Cereal,

5) Foods that should be eaten in 1/8 cup servings: Cheese, Bread, Pretzels, Potato Chips,

6) Foods that should be eaten in 1/3 cup servings: Rice, Couscous, Quinoa, Cooked Pasta,

7) Foods that should be eaten in 1 teaspoon servings: Oil, Butter, and Spreads.

8) Foods that should be eaten in 1 tablespoon servings: Nuts.

Here’s to the Journey!