Food Prep? Done with Diet-to-Go!

Food Prep??? No need with Diet-to-Go!!!!

If you have ever read my blog, you know that I struggle with preparing food and planning. I am a single mom with an active little boy, and I work full time. In order to do all the things that I have to do in my day to day life, I need to prep food for the week. Well, I am still struggling with that... That means that my planning meals is NOT happening. And we all know that when you have no plan, you are planning to fail.


This is why I jumped at the chance to review Diet-to-Go when I was asked. Diet-to-Go is a diet meal delivery. I was a little worried because I have the sense of adventure with food of a 5-year-old. I decided to grow up and try new things. And let me tell you that Diet-to-Go didn't disappoint!!!

This is how it came for me! Yum!

A few months ago, many of my fellow bloggers were posting pictures of these meals that were already ready and just needed to be heated up. I started to do some research and couldn't believe how great and perfect for me this seemed. I contacted Diet-to-Go and asked some questions and let them know that I was interested. Before they got back to me, I was offered the chance to review the food. This was great because I was already trying to figure out how to order some meals. I was thrilled when they arrived!

Diet-to-Go is the most inexpensive fresh diet delivery service on the market right now. They were rated by Epicurious #1! What is really nice is that there are 3 different menus of meals to choose from. They have low-fat, vegetarian, and low-carb. There are 20 different plans to choose from. 

"According to a University of Washington study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, high-quality, healthy foods cost on average $18.16 per 1,000 calories –just for the ingredients! That’s why eating healthy with Diet-to-Go is such a great value. With Diet-to-Go, you can get a delicious variety of fully prepared, healthy meals for just $17.02 per 1,000 calories. And, everything you need is included. No shopping, no complicated recipes, and no messy clean-up – It’s like having your own personal chef. Best of all, it may be less expensive than trying to do it on your own." When I read this about Diet-to-Go, I knew that I would rather not go to the trouble. How nice that it is done for me!

I love the fact that this is a diet meal delivery service. I swear that sometimes I think my grocery store wants to put out a missing persons report for me. I don't go in there enough, and when I do, it's to buy one of two things. The fact that this food is delivered to my door stops me from messing up my nutrition plan! It takes my mistakes, my lack of planning, my laziness and my being busy out of the equation.

Here is some very true and great info from Diet-to-Go:

Diet-to-Go is consistently ranked a top pick in taste tests and was recently ranked the top meal plan in a national blind taste test conducted by Epicurious.

It is not enough to be the best tasting. We believe the product must be priced to be accessible to customers who have grown accustom to cheap, processed, unhealthy foods. We have worked hard to control cost everywhere in our business other the food. This allows Diet-to-Go to deliver quality, delicious fully prepared and ready toeat meals, for as little as $6.81 per meal. This is the best price/quality value on the market, bar none.

Diet-to-Go is offering 20% off any meal plan to all of you with the coupon code "fitfluential."  This makes a great deal even better! Seriously, this stuff is DELISH! You must try!

Diet-to-Go sent me the low-fat plan. My favorite meals are pictured above. I loved my Thursday night dinner. It was blackened turkey loin with carrot chipotle puree. It was so good. It was like I was eating at a favorite restaurant! I don't cook, so you don't want to hear it tasted like a home-cooked meal :)  I also loved Wednesday's breakfast. The strawberry maple syrup made the pancakes! And I loved the french toast too. I think everything tasted great. I was impressed with the way the food held up in the microwave too. I made sure to heat up under the suggested time and add time slowly. I didn't have any problems! 

FitFluential LLC compensated me for this Campaign. All opinions are my own.

Flashdance, The Muscial! I was a Maniac! And Dietbet results

Flashdance, The Musical

Photo credit to Flashdance, the Musical website

When I was told that I would have the opportunity to be a guest of the  David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts on the opening night of Flashdance, The Musical,  I was so excited! Flashdance will be running at the Straz Center until the 24th. Don't miss it!  

Yes, I was a maniac! Yes, that really did happen! :) 

The first thing that I thought of was how often I did the Maniac dance in my bedroom when I was a little girl while wearing my leotard and leg warmers. I immediately called the woman who put up with all of my dreams as a child, my mom, and invited her to be my guest to the show.
When a few of my friends mentioned dressing up for the night, I was so excited!  I am typically not a dress up/Halloween type of person, but I couldn't resist cutting up a sweatshirt from the thrift store and finding some leg warmers to wear! And I did just that! As my mom and I walked up to the box office, one woman asked if she could take a picture of my leg warmers. I thought it was great. I didn't mind being the reason that someone got a good laugh. We jokingly told her that we had to hurry up because I was the understudy! We met my other friends and bloggers at the box office. There we were asked for a group picture too. It was so much fun!

(My blogger friends Chrissy from Loving Life, Caroline from My Fascinating Life, Denise from RunDMT,  Jenny from Metamorfit  and Raffi from Running Betty and our guests)

Photo credit https://www.facebook.com/FlashdanceMusical?fref=ts

Matthew Hydzik played the handsome Nick Hurley. Nick is the love interest for the lead, Alex. Matthew stole the stage when he was singing. I couldn't take my eyes off him. At one point he said something about her not wanting him, and my mom leaned over and said, "I'll take him!" I couldn't have agreed more. He was adorable and talented!  

I read the following on the  Straz website:

FLASHDANCE, the pop culture phenomenon and runaway international success, is now live on stage! It all started with a dream. To be bigger. To burn brighter. To dance harder. Now is the time to live the dream all over again. Based on the movie that defined a generation,FLASHDANCE – The Musical tells the unforgettable story of Alex, a working-class girl from Pittsburgh striving to make her dreams of becoming a professional dancer a reality. Directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys, Memphis, The Addams Family), this new musical features a score of smash hits including the Academy Award-winning title track “Flashdance - What a Feeling,” “Maniac,” “I Love Rock & Roll,” along with 16 original songs. Experience the magic all over again. FLASHDANCE will leave you begging for more!



This is a must-see show! It will take you right back to the 80s, and I have to admit, I loved the 80s!!! Tease up your mall bangs, find some leg warmers, and get yourself over the  David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts  ASAP!!! And you never know, I just may really be the understudy :) 

Photo courtesy of Straz Center Media Relations 

disclosure: I was given complimentary tickets to Flashdance, the Musical. All opinions are my own

Results from my #FFDietBet

And don't forget to enter my FitnessGlo 90-day online membership giveaway!

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FitnessGlo Review and Giveaway

Do you struggle with finding time to workout? It's no secret that I do! I am a single mom on the run and when I was offered the opportunity to try out the online fitness classes website FitnessGlo, I had to say yes, heck yes!!! 

The first thing I noticed about FitnessGlo was that it was created for women, by women, and it was designed for women for busy women to sneak in a workout during a busy schedule. That is why classes are shorter in duration and can be combined with other classes to create longer workouts. I feel so much better after a good workout. When I don't get my workouts in, I get grumpy. and let's be honest, without it, I start snacking. I also appreciate the balance tracker that makes sure that I have a good balance of strength, cardio and stretch each week. FitnessGlo's entire goal is for women to find balance in their lives, so this particular feature is an important one to keep an eye on throughout the week. FitnessGlo offers a wide variety of workouts. 

I got to use my ball, my step, my tube, and my hand weights. But, if you don't have any of those things, you will still find plenty of things to do. 

This year I haven't been able to join a gym due to finances and time. I have been working out on my own, but this last month has been great to have these workouts whenever I need them. I feel like FitnessGlo was made for people like me, moms like me. 

There were a variety of instructors to choose from. I found myself jumping around a lot, trying classes that I wouldn't usually try. I did Barre, cardio, step, intervals, stretch, balance and strength training. My favorite was the interval classes with Jeffrey Scott. I enjoyed Jeffrey's energy and enthusiasm, but there wasn't one that I didn't like. They were all great. I plan to do my first Pilates Core class this evening with Michelle Dozois. 

This is from the website for FitnessGlo:

And I couldn't agree with the last line more! 

I really did like the way I felt, as I do after every workout! The workouts go from 5 min stretching to 45 min. workouts. There is no excuse. We all have time for that! And if you want a longer workout, you just combine a few classes.

Another really cool thing about FitnessGlo is that they have an 8 week program that will guide you each week. No thinking, just show up and move! 




FitnessGlo is a membership-based website. You pay $12 per month and this gives you the opportunity to have your own personal gym in your living room, office, or where ever you need it. The website is offering a free 15-day trial. Everyone gets that, but one lucky winner will get a FREE 90-day membership to FitnessGlo from me! Yes, we are so lucky that they are offering a 90-day membership to one of my readers! Please enter the rafflecopter below!


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FitFluential LLC compensated me for this Campaign. All opinions are my own.

Motivation from my Movie Night

Valentine's Day Date with my son
My son and I had a nice evening. We went to my school's middle school talent show. I watched some very talented kids shine on the stage. That was really cool. When we got home, we watched Coach Carter, the movie.  I have seen this movie a ton of times, but this time was special. I don't know if it was because I was watching it with my son or if it was because I am on this fitness journey, but something really stood out to me.

Coach Carter kept asking Cruz what his deepest fear was. Finally, Cruz stands up and says,

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Please note that this writing, “Our Deepest Fear,” was written by Marianne Williamson. 

I am going to "let my light shine!" I want to ignite the fire in to others. I want to show my friends, my family, my son, my haters that I am going to do this! I will succeed. This is bigger than me.

DietBet:

I have 4 days left in this DietBet, and I have just under 2 lbs. to go. I have to be strict and I can do this! I have also been sure to get my workouts in with FitnessGlo and the flexibility of their online workouts.

I won the last one over the holidays, and I think I got complacent. I am frustrated that I am struggling right now, but I am confident that things will turn around for me. I will do it!


Okay, so there is my thought for the day!
Now the winners of the Injinji socks are
below. I will be emailing the winners later today! Congrats!

Happy Valentines Day to you and Iron Girl Winner

Happy Happy Happy Valentine's Day! 

I hope today is a great day!!! A lot of times we get wrapped up in the retail part of the holiday. We need to remember that today is about love. You cannot truly love anyone without loving yourself, so tell yourself nice things today and make yourself happy! I know I plan to. Today shouldn't be about spending money. It should be about doing nice things for the people you care about.

One of my students drew a picture of him and I holding hands. It said, "Every second, of every minute, of every hour, you make me smile!" Let me tell you that this picture has made me so much happier today than any flowers, candy or other treats. That picture will be one of the most special things I will receive as a teacher. As a fifth grade teacher, students rarely draw pictures for their teachers because they are just "too cool!" Well, thank goodness this boy did! It made me smile all night last night!

I sincerely hope you get to spend time with the people who matter most in your life. I will be at our Middle School Talent Show tonight with my best boy... my son. And I think we will be going out to his favorite burger place before we go.

God, help me to be good! I have a Diet Bet to win!

FitnessGlo: 

I have also been working out online with Fitnessglo.com. It's been a lot of fun and I have gotten to do some different types of workouts. Pay attention next week because I will be offering a giveaway to a subscription to Fitnessglo.com.  It should be fun! 




I found this video from Lorna Jane and had to post it. It is great. I will show it to my students today when they come into class.

Congratulations to our Iron Girl Half Marathon Winner! Erin Jimenez! It is funny because I swear that every single time I had a twitter notification, it was her tweeting about this giveaway! When I clicked Rafflecopter's pick a winner button, I thought, "Well I guess we will see if the odds are in Erin's favor!" And they were!!! Congrats Erin.  I will contact you soon to get your info! 

Getting the family fit and 2 giveaways!!!

#FitFamFeb and 2 giveaways (scroll to bottom for giveaways!)

On Saturday, I took my son to the Rock n Roll Marathon Expo. As I was pulling in the parking lot, I decided that my son needed to do this race with me. Normally I wouldn't have been able to spend $100 on a race for the two of us, but a guardian angel stepped in and made it possible!! I cannot than them enough! This was the best day I have had in a LONG time~ Fitness and Family together is the best equation for success and happiness in our family!

This is Bryce and me at the expo. He couldn't believe that he was going to be able to race, and he was more shocked when I told him that he would be running at his pace and not mine. I have always made him run with me. 

Bryce made this sign for my parents to hold for us. It was so cool! 

How about this :) 

He just finished!

My friend Caroline  and her boys were handing out medals. So cool!!!

It was the best day!!!

Giveaways!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Runners and Our Socks!

Socks are an important piece of the runner's toolbox! And my choice is injinji! 


About a week ago, my favorite sock company, injini asked me to post about their new website. The address is http://www.injinji.com/ They told me that they would send me some socks and offer a giveaway to my readers. There was no twisting my arm on this one. I definitely wanted some more injinji socks, and I knew that I wanted to offer the giveaway to you.

It took me a little bit to get used to having my toes in their own little holes, and honestly, I have Fred Flintstone feet in a bad way! Seriously! But I have grown to love these! My baby toes used to sneak into the toe next to its hole, but now it has even found comfort in its own hole. I love wearing these socks!!! You will too!



  a Rafflecopter giveaway



And don't forget about the Iron Girl Giveaway!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Gearing up for my next half marathon!

Who Wants to Run the Iron Girl with Me?

It's official! On Sunday April 14th, I will be running the 10th Annual Athleta Iron Girl Half Marathon!

Iron Girl’s Mission is to Empower Women Toward a Healthy Lifestyle! 

After the Women's Half Marathon in November, I pretty much felt like I was done with longer distance running. I finished the race and decided that I didn't like it. Well, I have reflected about it a lot. First thing I thought of was that I had no family at the finish line. My parents were out of town, so I had no one to be in charge of my son while I ran. That was definitely anti-climatic. Then I realized that after all of that training, I was bound to feel some let down. Finally I realized that I HAVE to run a half again. I owe it to myself. I need the training. I need the fitness and I need the fun.

I have signed up for the Iron Girl Half Marathon. I am very blessed to be a Polar Ambassador, and this will be the first race that Polar is a sponsor that I will race in. That is VERY exciting. I ran the 5K last year and it was tough. There is a big bridge to run over and it is kind of... um... well hard! But that makes it even better! Who doesn't love a challenge!

The best part is, I am giving away an Iron Girl Half Marathon entry for Clearwater on April 14th as well! Who wants to run with me??? or ahead of me??? or even behind me??? It's going to be a blast!







a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Iron Girl is providing a free half marathon race entry to one woman. The giveaway ends February 21 at 11:59 p.m. EST. My opinions are my own and were not influenced by any form of compensation.

FITNESSGLO.com

I just had another fun workout in my living room from Fitnessglo. You have got to check it out! I am (as you know) a single mom and I have NO time for anything now that baseball season has begun. I now have no excuse! Fitnessglo is in my living room, bedroom and even classroom if there is time. Go check it out!  http://www.fitnessglo.com.




Congratulations to Mindy Bobe! She is the winner of the Just Jump It Fitness Rope! Yay! 

* Iron Girl is providing a free half marathon race entry to one woman. The giveaway ends February 21 at 11:59 p.m. EST. My opinions are my own and were not influenced by any form of compensation.