Posted by melissa on April 18, 2009
As I was browsing the food aisles, I spotted Smartfood popcorn clusters. The chocolate cookie caramel pecan variety had me at hello. Seriously. These are SO GOOD. One little bag can definitely satisfy my sweet tooth. It tastes so, so, naughty… but the nutritional info speaks for itself!
One package contains:
Calories: 120
Fat: 2 g
Sodium: 75 mg
Total Carbs: 24 g
Dietary Fiber: 5 g
Sugar: 10 g
And 20%* of your daily value of calcium!
*Based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
The only problem I foresee? Stopping at one bag.
Posted by melissa on April 4, 2009
Here at the Sisterhood, we are always on the lookout for new workout clothing and products. We were thrilled when One More Mile offered us the chance to review their line of products!
One More Mile offers a huge selection of products made out of their Wick-Lite Diamond Knit fabric, which is lightweight and soft. The best part of this company?? They have the BEST slogans on their shirts. They put fun into exercise! The slogans chosen by Lisa, Christy, Crooked Eyebrow, and I??
“Will Run for Margaritas”
“Running My Mass Off”
“Will Run for Wine”
“Walking is Cheaper than Therapy”
Love them!
One More Mile is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a tank or short-sleeve shirt of their choice! To win, visit One More Mile, pick which saying you like best, come back here and tell us in a comment below! After that, we are giving you a chance for THREE more entries! Here’s how: Blog and/or Twitter about this giveaway and leave a SEPARATE comment for each link, and then for one more entry, leave a new comment with your guess as to which of the above slogans goes to which Sister! You’ll NEVER guess mine!
Contest is open through Friday, April 10th at 11:59pm Central. Winner will be randomly selected and announced the following day! Good luck!
Posted by christy on March 29, 2009
1st Mini-Challenge
The first mini-challenge of the Shrink Into Summer Challenge is geared to those of you who have Wii Fit. We’re going Hula!! Now, I know not all of you have a Wii or a Wii Fit, so maybe this challenge is just the reason you need to go out and get one! You can always beg, borrow, or steal one from a friend! If that’s not an option for you, grab an old-fashioned hoop hula along with us just for fun.
Now for the challenge! If you have Wii Fit, you must hula enough to unlock the Super Hula option under Aerobics. It won’t take long, trust me! Okay, so do you have Super Hula unlocked? Good. Once you unlock it you’ll be able to choose the 6 minute option, and if you do it enough, you’ll unlock the 10 minute option. Are you there? Okay, here’s where the fun begins! Our challenge is to see who can get the highest number of spins in 10 minutes! My best prior to starting this challenge is somewhere around 3,000 spins, and I plan to improve it throughout this week to see just how many hoops I can get.
So, are you up for it? Great! Here’s the deal, everyday come back here and let us know what your highest score is and at the end of the week, the person with the highest overall score will be eligible to win this fabulous giveaway:
Sisterhood Review & Giveaway
Looking for a fresh new way to shed some calories while having fun too? Of course you are! Do you remember how much fun it was too hula hoop as a kid? Well Hoopnotica has a great product and DVD set that gets your hips and inner core muscles moving!
Hoopnotic Hoopdance is a part dance, part exercise activity that gives you an energizing and effective workout. If you don’t believe how fun it is go watch the video on the site. The instructional DVD encourages you to keep trying and offers troubleshooting on how to perfect your hooping. Once you become familiar with your hoop you will soon find it’s not just great for your hips, but it also includes your arms for a full body workout.
With hoops starting out at around $30 and DVD’s around $20, hooping will be a great activity for years to come. Once you learn the basic moves you’ll be able to make up your own workouts and be hooping your way to a great body.
We are giving away one travel hoop and beginning DVD thanks to Hoopnotica.
Reviewed by Crooked Eyebrow!
**Contest will run from Sunday, March 29th through Saturday, April 4th at 11:59 p.m. CDT. In the event of a tie, the winners will have a hula hoop-off to determine the winner. Prize will be shipped to the US only. If someone outside of the US wins, they will be responsible for shipping charges incurred by the Sisterhood. The Sisterhood is not responsible if you pull a muscle or strain your back, so always use care when starting a new exercise program.**
Posted by melissa on March 13, 2009
I was recently introduced to Moving Comfort, a company for women BY women. The company is driven by belief that a fit woman is a powerful woman® and that every woman has the right to live her life in moving comfort. The company was started back in 1977 when there WERE no women’s workout clothes. Gasp! Can you imagine? They have now made it their mission to make quality products fit for a woman’s body and movement.
I had the awesome opportunity to wear a few of Moving Comfort’s pieces to the gym this past week. The Maia Sports bra features molded cups plus an underwire. I loved the support it gave me while doing my cardio at the gym. I also LOVED the fact that it didn’t give me the “uni-boob” look. You know how sometimes sports bras blend your breasts to look like it is one singular part? This sports bra actually accented the fact that I do have curves up there.
And these capris? Oh-so-comfy.
Moving Comfort has also initiated the Support Your Girls campaign. What a fabulous idea! They aim to educate women and girls about the importance of good nutrition, regular exercise, and proper breast health examination. You can buy these super-cute tees online here and 33% of the profits will benefit Girls in the Game.
AND NOW FOR THE BEST PART…
Moving Comfort is giving away a Sports Bra to one lucky reader!! Who doesn’t need a new bra?! To enter, just leave a comment down below saying something clever and interesting. Could it be any simpler? To earn to extra entries, blog about it and/or Twitter it. You must leave a separate comment for each entry, however. This contest will be open until Thursday, March 19th at 11:59 pm and the winner will be randomly selected and announced the following day. Remember, if you don’t have a blog, leave an email address where we can contact you if you win! GOOD LUCK!
Posted by melissa on March 7, 2009
**UPDATE: Today is the LAST day to enter to this giveaway! Don’t miss it!**
“BornFit is that flutter inside your heart…that vibrancy for life – when you’re about to embark on something new and different or even all too familiar, but it makes you feel alive, scared, or even anxious.”
This is the quote that graces BornFit’s main page. I must say that I LOVE IT! BornFit offers fitness clothing for the everyday woman, as well as a maternity line for expecting moms! All the clothes feature moisture-wicking, breathable fabric and are cute and stylish!
The co-founders, Lisa and Julie, are an absolute pleasure to work with! They are Colorado natives (LOVE Colorado!), as well as active moms, and have named many of their pieces after Colorado 14ers, you know, the mountains that are over 14,000′ tall! BornFit is also dedicated to educating women about heart health and the prevention of heart disease.
I recently had the opportunity to review the Sunlight Tee. I was so happy to see that it was a longer length; I have had so many problems with “too-short” workout tops. It fit great and was very comfortable. The mint jewel color is lovely too! I would highly recommend this shirt for anyone -it is also offered in their Maternity line!
The girls at BornFit have been busy putting out their new Spring clothing line, and the pieces are oh-so-cute! I have a feeling I will be purchasing an item or two!
Check out their blog here and follow them on Twitter!
And now for the best part!! BornFit is giving away a Sunlight Tee in mint jewel to a very lucky reader! Want to enter? Head on over to their site, come back here and leave a comment telling us what your favorite piece is! You can earn an extra entry by blogging about it and/or twittering it! Just make sure you leave a comment letting us know!
Contest will be open until 11:59 PM Central time on Saturday, March 7th. Duplicate entries will be deleted. Winner will be randomly selected and announced the following day! Good luck!
Posted by christy on March 3, 2009
Can something this good only have 110 calories, no fat, and 7 grams of fiber per serving? The answer is YES it can. Meet The Alternative Bagel. And because these little babies pack such a punch of fiber, they’re only 1 Weight Watchers Point! How amazing is that?
I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit of a food snob. Even when I’m dieting, I like food to taste real. Good. Not like food I would eat on a diet. So these bagels fit the bill for me. The texture is perfect, the flavor is amazing, and I don’t have to feel guilty if I eat 2!
So far, I’ve tried the Sweet Wheat and Roasted Onion. YUM! My favorite way to eat them is toasted with a Laughing Cow cheese wedge spread on them (amazingly like cream cheese!) for only 2 points! Or, if you throw on an egg, a slice of 2% cheese and a piece of turkey bacon, you have the perfect breakfast (or lunch or dinner!) sandwich. Lots of bang for little points/calorie bucks!
I’ve only been able to find them at Walmart, but I noticed that you can order them online here. Go forth and enjoy. You’re welcome 
Posted by lisa on March 2, 2009
Hey guys!
I was in the grocery store the other day and there was a sale on Kellogg’s Fiber Plus Chewy Bars (plus I had a coupon- yippee!). I had heard good things about these bars and I decided to give them a try.
OK, seriously. They were delicious and I wanted to eat the ENTIRE box in one sitting. Yes, they were that good. It almost tasted so good that you forgot you were eating something HEALTHY for you.
Here are the nutrition stats for one bar:
- 35% of your daily fiber
- rich in antioxidants, vitamin E and zinc
- 7g of whole grains
- good source of calcium
- WW points- 2 points per bar
So what are you waiting for? You MUST give these bars a try and let me know if you like them as much as I do.
Posted by melissa on February 21, 2009
If you haven’t tried the Laughing Cow cheese wedges yet, you must. The wedges come in four flavors:
Original Cream Swiss
Light Swiss Original (my Fave!)
Light Garlic & Herb
Light French Onion
They have a ton of flavor and the Light wedges have only 35 calories each and 2 grams of fat! The regular version has 50 calories and 4 grams of fat.
I like to spread mine on top of Reduced Fat Wheat Thins for a delcious snack. You could also use the cheese on top of your favorite snack cracker, bagels, or even pretzels.
Can you say cheesy goodness? Mmmm….
Posted by crookedeyebrow on February 19, 2009
Anyone who knows me can tell you that I have a HUGE sweet tooth. For me I feel that every meal I have needs to end with a sweet treat. Long gone are the days where I will load my diet full of unnecessary calories and fat, which is why I have chosen Jell-o sugar free pudding snacks.
Every time I eat one of these yummy treats I can’t help but think of Bill Cosby doing his Jell-o commercials. (gosh I love Bill Cosby). Jell-o pudding is that good, ya know? Now with several great flavors in the sugar free variety, my current favorite is the chocolate swirl. Just typing about it makes my mouth water.
Instead of making my own pudding, I do buy the pre-made snacks. Personally I see it as a perfect calorie, fat and size proportioned treat all ready to go. The delicious greatness is a bonus! Each of the sugar free pudding pack is only 60 calories and 1 gram of fat. So look out for these tasty sweet treats in your dairy section. Go ahead…see if you can channel your inner Bill Cosby.
Posted by christy on February 7, 2009
Do you like sandwiches? I do. As a mom, it seems like at least one meal a day (and sometimes 2) includes a sandwich. Grilled cheese, peanut butter & jelly (no, not for me, silly!), lunchmeat, BLT (with turkey bacon), etc. Sandwiches can be anything you want them to be. But bread’s not so good for you, right? I mean, even if you get whole grain, and let’s face it, most of the time the whole grain option isn’t too tasty, you’re still spending at least 2-4 points for 2 measly slices. Word!
So when I calculated the points for Nature’s Own Light Honey Wheat (and Whole Wheat & Sourdough) at the grocery store, I was astounded that 2 slices of bread could equal 1 point. EUREKA! Two slices equal 80 calories, 1 gram of fat, 5 grams of fiber, 5 grams of protein (bonus!!), and 0 mg cholesterol. Wow. And the best part? It’s damn tasty and soft. Not all gross and dried out!
So next time you’re in the store, look for it and grab a loaf. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
p.s. Did you see the two giveaways we have going on right now? Here and here!
Posted by melissa on February 6, 2009
Have you ever wondered why some people lose weight and others do not on the same diet? That question is what led me to research Dr. Peter D’Adamo’s book, Eat Right for Your Type. His own research has led him to believe that the blood type is “the key that unlocks the door to the mysteries of health, disease, longevity, physical vitality, and emotional strength.”
Here is a summary of some of the main ideas of the program:
Every day, how your body interacts with what you eat influences your:
- Energy Levels
- Healthy Weight
- Mental Clarity
- Ability to Handle Stress
The key is found in protein molecules called lectins. Researchers have identified over 1,000 foods that contain these protein “lectins.” Because of our individuality, our bodies will interact with these lectins in different ways, some in good ways, some in bad ways. Of all the genetic characteristics that you inherited, only one characteristic will help you predict these interactions and stay healthy: your blood type.
According to Dr. D’Adamo:
Type O-People with type O blood fare best on intense physical exercise and animal proteins and less well on dairy products and grains. The leading reason for weight gain among Type O’s is the gluten found in wheat products and, to a lesser extent, lentils, corn, kidney beans, and cabbage. Ideal exercises for Type O’s include aerobics, martial arts, contact sports, and running.
Type A-Those with blood type A, however, are more naturally suited to a vegetarian diet and foods that are fresh, pure, and organic. As Type A’s are predisposed to heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, “I can’t emphasize how critical this dietary adjustment can be to the sensitive immune system of Type A,” says Dr. D’Adamo. Type A’s prefer calming, centering exercise, such as yoga and tai chi.
Type B-Type B’s have a strong immune system and a tolerant digestive system and tend to resist many of the severe chronic degenerative illnesses, or at least survive them better than the other blood types. Type B’s do best with moderate physical exercise requiring mental balance, such as hiking, cycling, tennis, and swimming.
Type AB-Blood type AB, the most recent, in terms of evolution, of the four groups and an amalgam of types A and B, is the most biologically complex. For this group, a combination of the exercises for types A and B works best.
I, of course, am a Type A. Go figure that I would be the type that fares best on a vegan diet. I come from a huge beef and steak-eating family. In the last few weeks, I have cut the beef mostly out of my diet and consume fish and chicken regularly. I have switched from regular milk to soy products. I will admit, this was a hard one at first, but after the first few days it wasn’t so bad. I am trying to focus more on getting my fruits and veggies in as well.
The Eat Right for Your Type book contains more detailed information on the profiles of the four major blood groups, as well as the types of foods that are beneficial for you, neutral, and foods that you should avoid. I can’t possibly list all the information here, but the folks behind Eat Right for Your Type are giving one of you the chance to win your very own copy of the book!
To enter, just leave a comment below telling us your favorite food. What do you love?! This contest will close at 11:59pm CST on Thursday, February 12th and a winner will be randomly selected and announced on the following day. Good luck!
Posted by beth on January 31, 2009
I know I haven’t been around much, but I promise I have my reasons. The good news? I’m still watching my weight and still making sure my LOSER HUSBAND is still getting good a nutritional meal at night. (most times.)
One thing that we needed in our house was a nice digital food scale. I am all about the measuring and the weighing. I don’t believe in eyeballing anything. I went to Amazon and did some research and found a scale I wanted to try out.
What was I looking for in a food scale before purchasing?
-inexpensive -small -easy to use
-available through Amazon Prime
I found the Escali Primo Mulifunctional Food Scale, read the very high reviews and ordered. Two days later, I received it for a total of $24.95.
Inexpensive? Yes.
Small? Yes.
Easy to use? Yes, EXTREMELY. Also comes with two double AA Energizer batteries.
Available through Amazon Prime? Yep.
Do I recommend it? Yes, I do.
(the Escali comes in a total of SEVEN colors!)
Go forth and measure.
Posted by melissa on January 25, 2009
We were recently offered the opportunity to try out Weight Watchers Chocolate Candies by Whitman’s. You know us, we never turn down a good treat (ahem, unless it’s high in fat and calories, of course)! They come in many different varieties, everything from Caramel Medallions to Double Chocolate Mousse. Mmmm. My mouth is watering just typing about it!
I decided to try the Peanut Butter Cups. I’m always a sucker for peanut butter. And chocolate. I personally found them to be very good. Just enough chocolatey goodness to satisfy my sweet tooth. And for only 2 points a piece, they are well worth it. My only problem was stopping at one!
Crooked Eyebrow, what did you think?
Like Melissa, I too tasted the sweet and savory Weight Watchers peanut butter cups. Once I opened the bag I was fully expecting to taste a diet candy. Thankfully this was not that case at all! With the candy only being 2 points a piece, I soon found these delicious candies were the perfect sized treat. My only wish is that the bag was bigger because I loved them so much.
Weight Watchers Peanut Butter Candies by Whitmans are now my little slice of heaven when I crave something sweet!
How about you Christy?
Holy-mary-mother-of-all-that-is-chocolatey-and-caramely-and-only-1-point!!
According to Weight Watchers, it is OKAY to eat chocolate. Personally, I don’t think I could successfully diet without giving in to my sweet tooth occasionally. So when Weight Watchers asked us to try some of their delectible candies, I was like, “YEAH!”
I had the pleasure of trying the Pecan Crowns and all I have to say is: WONDERFUL. I love chocolate and I love caramel and I love pecans, so these little clusters of deliciousness really fit the bill for me. What’s even better? They are only ONE point! Yes, you read right. Candy this amazing is only one point.
I will most definitely be picking some of these up next time I grocery shop! Yes, I’ve seen them in the grocery store, which is an added extra bonus. And there are several varieties to choose from!
Now it’s YOUR turn Sisters and Brother(s). Thanks to Weight Watchers, we are offering you a chance to stuff your face responsibly satisfy your chocolate urges. We are giving away a bag of candy each to TWO separate lucky people! To enter, just leave a comment below. Tell us what you like about the site, what you don’t like, topics you would like us to post on… I don’t care, just tell us SOMETHING. And if you would like an extra entry, tweet about it and report back to us. This contest will end Wednesday, January 28th at 11:59 pm CST and the winner will be randomly chosen and announced the following day. Good Luck!
Posted by christy on January 24, 2009
Yes, I’m writing a product review on hot dogs. Why? Because I love them and my son loves them and they are just good. I’m a bit of a hot dog snob though. I only like 100% beef hot dogs. Mystery dogs just gross me out, turkey ones have a strange texture, and the tofu ones should be banned from the face of the earth. Just my opinion!
When I joined Weight Watchers online the first time around, I scoured the grocery store for normal things I could eat and still stay on plan. I was so excited when I discovered Hebrew National’s line of reduced fat and 97% fat free, all beef hot dogs.
The 97% fat free dogs are only 1 point and really taste quite good. I’ve been known to pair them up with a light hot dog bun and some yummy turkey chili. All that for about 3 points! If you don’t have buns, just wrap a slice bread around it and top it off with some mustard. Or you could even cut them up in mac and cheese for the kids.
Hebrew National 97% Fat Free Beef Franks
45 calories 1.5 grams fat 1 gram saturated fat 3 grams carbs
6 grams protien
The reduced fat dogs are a little tastier, but as you can see, the calories jump up quite a bit. They measure up to 3 points, but if you have them to spend, I highly recommend this variety.
Hebrew National Reduced Fat Beef Franks
120 calories 10 grams fat 4.5 gram saturated fat 0 grams carbs
6 grams protien
And just for the sake of comparison, I’ve added the nutritional value for the regular beef dog.
Hebrew National Beef Franks
150 calories 14 grams fat 6 gram saturated fat 1 grams carbs
6 grams protien
So, do you love hot dogs, too? Do you have any special ways you enjoy them? Share them with us!
Posted by crookedeyebrow on January 17, 2009
I am a huge english muffin fan. Whether we use them for homemade egg sandwiches or just for a light breakfast. Since I started to watch points and what I am eating, I almost felt like I was “wasting” points on bread. I don’t know about you, but I want to save the points for the good stuff!
When I was at the grocery store awhile ago, about to pick up the usual English muffins, I saw these.
Weight Watchers Whole Grain English Muffins
I picked them up and could not believe that they were only 1 point!! Yes, one point. These weight watchers muffins are only 100 calories, Zero fat and 6 grams of fiber! So compared to the competitor, I was sold at first glance.
The next morning I popped them in the toaster, sprayed a little butter on them and I was in yummy breakfast heaven. Yes, I loved them. They are forever more on my weekly grocery list. So, if you are looking to save a few points in your breakfast breads, why don’t you steer your grocery cart over to these low point treats!