Make your own soda!

I used to be a HUGE soda drinker. Dr. Pepper was my drink. Every morning on my way to work I'd stop at the convenience store and fill up my HUGE jug (they would let you fill your own cup for forty-eight cents, no matter what size cup you had) and that would be my breakfast of choice. I would get another one at lunch and usually have one with dinner as well. I couldn't figure out why I didn't feel good????

Anyway, I had to give up caffeine shortly after that. Too many headaches and other problems going on with my body. I really missed my Dr. Pepper and would complain about it all the time for about 3 weeks. After I was detoxed, I couldn't believe how much better I felt.

Brian was a big diet coke drinker, so much so that he got aspartame poisoning. So, he has given up sodas also.

The kids still drink soda. Nick doesn't drink much else, even though I try to convince him to have a little water now and then. Jake and Chase drink soda occasionally, but not all the time.

So, it's been a LONG time since I've had any soda, but I came across the Sodastream. You can make your own at home and it doesn't have ANY high fructose corn syrup. (The commercials promoting high fructose corn syrup just make me sooooo mad!!! another story, another day).

The Sodastream has been fun. Brian and I made the diet cola for him to try the other day. We got everything out and read through the instructions and got started. I filled the bottle with very cold water to the fill line, he hooked up the gas container and off we went. We had water shooting out all over the place. We were laughing so hard and having a good time. I'm glad it was just water and not the syrup to make the soda. That would've been hard to clean. :)

This is the water with the carbonation.

So, back to the instructions and a little look online at Sodastream's website to see what we did wrong. We didn't screw the top of the bottle into the machine. So, once we got it figured out, it was sooo easy! Brian enjoyed having his beloved diet cola. He liked the taste and I liked that it made a small amount that wouldn't go bad and be thrown away.

This is the finished product:

Last night, Jake came over and saw the Sodastream on the table and wanted to try some. He made cream soda and LOVED it! He said it tasted better than the kind at the store.

There are so many flavors to choose from and it's so easy to do. I highly recommend that if you are going to drink sodas, you get one for your home.

I am going to try the flavored waters today. I can't wait to try these! I am sure that the Sodastream will be getting a lot of use around here!

Why should you purchase a Sodastream?

Quick, convenient and easy to use
Fresh, delicious soda in seconds
No more lugging heavy, bulky bottles and cans from the store
No more storing cases of soda
No more worries about running out of your favorite soft drinks
Over 30 great-tasting flavors, including regular, diet, caffeine-free and cocktail mixers

Regular flavors do not contain high-fructose corn syrup

Diet flavors are sweetened with Splenda® brand sweetener and contain no aspartame
Reusable BPA-free bottles and concentrated syrup cut down on recyclables and disposables, making an environmentally-friendly alternative to store-bought drinks
No batteries, electricity or plumbing
Reliable and friendly service
Money-back guarantee and two-year warranty

Nuun Active Hydration

I work out just about everyday. I like to sweat and work out hard. I do love my P90X Recovery drink, but at times I don't want that many calories or I can't always have it due to the arginine in it.

Luckily, I have come across Nuun! This on of the best products for hydration on the go. So portable, just throw a tube in your gym bag and you are ready to go!

Nuun replaces: sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. Essential electrolytes that you lose through sweat.

Nuun does not contain any sugar. No sugar = no sticky mess, no muffin tops, no upset stomach and no funky biohazards in your bottles and hydration packs.

Nuun dissolves completely with no stirring or shaking for eas eof use while on the go. Simply drop a tab in 16 oz water, allow 2 minutes to dissolve and drink as you feel thirsty.

So this last week during my workouts, I used these tablets. I chose the citrus fruit flavor and shared with my workout buddies. We were pleasantly surprised. There was no bitter aftertaste, it was lightly flavored and quite good. I will be picking some of these up to have on hand. I will stay hydrated throughout these Insanity sweat fest workouts!

Nuun comes in several flavors - citrus fruit, lemon+lime, tri-berry are just a few. Find a retailer near you here or you can shop online here.

I have a lemon + lime and a tri-raspberry to give away to 2 lucky readers!!!

Here's how to enter:

1) Go to nuun.com and leave a comment with which flavor you'd like to try.

2) Become a follower of my blog. - leave me a comment, if you already are, just say so

3) Sign up to be a free customer at http://www.missourifitclub.com/ - leave me a comment, if you already are my customer, just say so!

4) Grab my button and put it on your blog! Leave a comment with a link to your blog!

4 easy ways to enter. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry!! The winning comment will be chosen on Oct 6, 2009 by random. org.

Going Green and Getting Clean with EcoTools!!

EcoTools has launched a brand new Bath and Body care line! These products are so amazing! I love the way they smell and my skin feels so soft after using the Body Wash and Body Lotion!

EcoTools has an enormously successful collection of eco-friendly cosmetic brushes, bath, brow and nail accessories and just released this collection of chic, yet eco-conscious bath and body products. They are phthalate-free, dermatologist tested and cruelty free to show respect for you and the planet.

EcoTools is offering:

"Clean Skin, Cleaner World" Body Wash ($7.99) - made with 98% ingredients from nature, this uplifting botanical and biodegradable cleanser gently removes impurites without over drying skin.

"Blooming Planet" Body Mist ($7.99) - This Body Mist instantly transport you to a blooming botanical garden with a bright and fresh floral scent. Refresh your natural wellness with this captivating blend of elegant floral blooms. Smell great and feel great!

"Sustainable Softness" Body Lotion ($7.99) - For those seeking intense morisure, look no further than this body lotion that is 98% from nature. Sustainable Softness features nourishing shea butter, which easily absorbs into skin and leaves it feeling silky and smooth. Skin will instantly feel hydrated and sustain your softness!

"One Hand Helps the Other" Hand Cream ($7.99) - this hard-working Hand Cream features jojoba oil which helps to hydrate and repair dry skin. Get ready to gree the world - one hand at a time!

"Love Heels All" Heel Cream ($7.99) - the highly emollient Heel Cream features natural butters that quench parched skin and relive dryness. Now you've got the tool to put your best foot forward.

"Green, Clean, Go" Travel Sampler Kit ($9.99) - This travel sampler set is everthing the jet-setter (or just overnighter) needs for convenient and natural on-the-go body care. Contains body wash, body lotion, body mist and hand cream, these products and the pint-sized princesses to their larger counterpart. This kit also contains a bamboo nail brush which is perfect for smoothing rough edges and ragged cuticles.

"Be Green, Live Clean" Body Care Set ($14.99) - Featuring all of the products needed to deep clean while remaining green, this body care kit includes the body wash, body lotion, loofah bath sponge and reusable wristlet bag. The natrual loofah bath spone is the perfect bath accessory for exfoliating and scrubbing.

In a continued effort to give back, EcoTools has joined with 1% For the Planet, an alliance of businesses committed to leveraging their resources to create a healthier planet. members recognize their responsibility to and denpendence on a health enrivornment. Therefore, 1% of EcoTools annual sales will be donated to the organization.

Paris Presents creates and distributs this comprehensive lineof cosmetic, bath and body and travel products.

You can find this line at Walgreens or go here to locate another retailer near you!

I love that the products are good for me and good for the planet! I will be using these on a regular basis from now on! One of my favorite things for sure!

Why Now?

When I was in high school ( several, several years ago!!) every year at yearbook picture time, I would get fever blisters. It only happened once a year, but it was always there for pictures. Not sure what caused them at that particular time, but it never failed. When I look back at those yearbooks, I just cringe. There is nothing pretty about fever blisters.

So, after figuring out that stress, sun and eating too many acid-y foods and/or nuts can cause me to break out with fever blisters, I thought I had gotten these things under control. I don't get them that often, but when my immune system is compromised or I am under a lot of stress, I will get a fever blister.

Why, after all of my stress has calmed down, do I now get not only one fever blister, but THREE!!!! These things are so painful. They are so ugly. I expected to get one when Brian was in the hospital or right after we got home. It's been 8 weeks since his accident. Makes no sense to me! UGH!

We had the baby yesterday and I can't kiss her. I did wash my hands so much yesterday. I would feel so bad if it spread to the baby. I have been fortunate enough that only one of my kids get them.

I am using chammomile oil, tea tree oil and lysine to try and get them under control. I've found that this will speed up the healing process.

Do you have any special tips for healing fever blisters or cold sores?

Nature's Path Organics

Have you tried Nature's Path Organic Cereal? It is sooo yummy! The very nice people at Nature's Path have given me 4 boxes of cereal to giveaway! You are going to LOVE it!!

There is something for everyone in the family to enjoy!

EnviroKidz Peanut Butter Panda Puffs, Optimum Strawberry & Yogurt, Crunchy Vanilla Sunrise and Flax Plus Red Berry Crunch!

Any one of these would be wonderful to have, but 1 lucky person will win them all!

I just tried the Pumpkin Flax Plus Granola and it is so good! Just perfect for the fall weather we have been having lately! A big bowl of granola and some almond milk is the perfect breakfast or snack!

Nature's Path Organics is not your typical company:

Our products are sold in grocery stores all over the continent, on the shelf next to a lot of other brands. Some of them are even organic brands. But there’s one thing that makes us stand out from the crowd. Our values as a company come from our values as people first, and they’re ideals we hold near to our hearts. Read on:

•We are fiercely independent: Arran and Ratana built this family company from the fertile, organic ground up. We haven’t “sold out”—and we don’t intend to.

•We make organic food because we believe deeply in sustainability: Arran grew up hearing his father say these words often “Always leave the soil better than you found it." It’s become one of our guiding principles, and it affects every element of our business today.

•We are creative and a little quirky: We belly dance at work. We spend break time digging in the corporate garden. We sing in meetings. A lot.

•We believe in humanity: We believe if you treat people well, they will treat you well in return. So that’s how we lead our lives and run our business. Our people seem pretty happy with that.

•We really, really love food: seriously. We bake in our spare time. We spend our winters dreaming up all the wonderful recipes we’re going to cook up with our summer gardens. We like to stop by the test kitchen—often. And we can’t stop snacking on cereal and granola bars and toaster pastries around here. You’re welcome to come by and try some.

There is nothing better than a company that truly cares about its product and about its customers.

To enter:

1) Head over to Nature's Path Organic and leave a comment on what product you are most excited about and why!

2) become a follower of my blog - if you already are, just leave a post telling me.

3) become a free customer at Missouri Fit Club - if you already are, just leave a comment that you are!

4) follow me on twitter - @Danamoritz - again leave me a comment that you are following me with your twitter name!

Be sure to leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry. This gives you more chances to win! Drawing will be on October 3, 2009. Winner will be chosen by random.org! Good luck!

Save M Olives!

Recently I was driving with my 13 year old niece, Julie. We were coming home from the hospital and she was keeping me company on the drive. We were chatting and enjoying each other's company (at least I was, she was tolerating it LOL!). There was a sign on the side of the road - you know the kind the road dept puts up alerting drivers to road construction. It was telling us that I was going to have merge ahead due to a lane being closed. At the bottom it said savemolives. I thought about it for a while and couldn't figure out why the state was concerned about olives.... I drove on for a few more miles and finally couldn't take it any longer when we saw a second sign just like the first one. I said to Julie, why do we need to save the olives? She looked at me, looked at the sign and said - it's save MO lives. you know Missouri lives - it's a reminder to wear your seat belt and drive safely. I think she thought I was the strangest person on the face of the earth! I felt really stupid after that, but chalked it up to one of my blonde moments.

Now, anytime we get in the car, I remind everyone to save m olives and get buckled up.

Congratulations to Carma and The Actor's Diet!

They are the winners of the FoodShouldTasteGood tortilla chips!!!

Carma wants to try the Works and The Actor's Diet picked choclate as their favorite! Hope that you guys enjoy them as much as I do!!! Watch out, they can be addictive :)

Be sure to get entered for the Stevia Extract in the Raw giveaway. It ends Sept. 30th!

Look for a new contest tomorrow!!

Meatless Monday

I'm getting a late start to my post today, but I've been in my office working all day! I've gotten a lot accomplished!!

Here is today's Meatless Monday recipe!


Tasty Tofu Patties from Vegetarian Times Magazine
Serves 4

This recipe cooks up even quicker when you use pregrated carrots.

1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise (vegannaise is my fave)
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 tsp. dried tarragon
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1 14 oz pkg firm tofu, drained
1 4 oz can sliced mushrooms, rinsed, drained and finely chopped
1/3 cup grated carrots
4 sun dried tomatoes in oil, drained and finely chopped
1 cup breadcrumbs
1 16 oz jar prepared tomato sauce

1. Whisk together mayonnaise, onion parsley, tarragon, and mustard in bowl. Mash tofu into mixture with fork. Stir in mushrooms, carrots and sun-dried tomatoes. Fold in breadcrumbs.

2. Heat large skillet coated with cooking spray over med heat. Scoop tofu mixture onto hot skillet in 1/4 cup dollops and reduce heat to med-low. cook 5-7 mins or until patties are golden. Flip patties and cook 4-5 mins more. Transfer to plate and keep warm. Repeat with remaining tofu mix until you have 8 patties. Transer to plates and serve each patty topped with 1/4 cup tomato sauce.

per serving (2 patties with sauce) 391 calories, 15 g protien, 19 g total fat (3 g sat fat), 39 g carb, 0 mg cholestrol, 852 mg sodium, 6 g fiber and 12 g sugars

These turned out great! Brian and I really enjoyed them for dinner tonight! I didn't cook all of them and I plan to serve the rest tomorrow - uncooked as a tofu salad sandwich for lunch!!!

Have a great day. Eat clean and push play

Vega - Real Food. Fast

This morning Brian wanted blueberry pancakes. This was the perfect time to try out my new Vega Whole Food Smoothie Infusion! I got out my ingredients and got started making the pancakes. I started in the vita-mix. I soon realized that this wasn't working right. There just wasn't enough liquid. So, I switched over to the food processor. There still wasn't enough liquid, so I added in some water. This did the trick. I wasn't sure how these were going to taste, but I made them and they smelled wonderful! Brian got his first and I was still cooking when he asked for another one. THIS IS HUGE!!!! Brian is my meat and potatoes man. He really liked them. I have to say they were very tasty and very filling. I couldn't finish mine. We have 2 left and I think I'll stick them in the freezer for another day.

Vega Whole Food Smoothie Infusion will give your favorite shake or smoothie an instant boost of complete protein, fiber, Omega 3 EFAs and green foods!


Features & Benefits


Give your favorite shake or smoothie an instant boost of complete protein, fiber, Omega 3 EFAs and green foods! Just blend Vega Smoothie Infusion with some fruit, ice, water or juice to create a whole food fortified custom smoothie creation your entire family will enjoy!


Vega Smoothie Infusion is made exclusively from natural plant-based whole foods. Alkaline-forming and easy to digest, it provides premium nutrition in a convenient, affordable format. Clean and green, Vega contains no common allergens including corn, dairy, gluten, soy, wheat and yeast.


Vega Whole Food Smoothie Infusion can transform your regular fruit smoothie into a nutritious and delicious meal. Power-packed with raw, organic superfoods, each serving of Vega Smoothie Infusion provides more protein than 2 large eggs, more fiber than 2 slices of whole wheat bread and more Omega 3 than 6 oz of wild salmon.

On Thursday of this week, Brian had a mega session of physical therapy. He had out-patient therapy for the first time. It was a 2 hour Occupational therapy appt and a 2 hour physical therapy appt. So, I stuck the Vega Whole Food Vibrancy Bars in my purse so we could have our afternoon snack. (We are eating 5 mini meals to help Brian heal) We tried the Green Synergy bar. It was tasty. I was afraid that it would taste too "healthy", but I was surprised. It was good! We will be trying the Wholesome Original and the Chocolate Decadence on the next few trips. I'm looking forward to trying them eating the Green Synergy bar!

Be sure to stop by Sequel Naturals and check out all the great Vega products. Oh, and I don't want to forget Brendan Brazier's book - Thrive. It's a great book for everyone!!! Such great info and recipes.

Bodybugg

I purchased a Bodybugg. I've been wanting one for a while, but didn't want to shell out the money for it. I finally just decided to go for it and get it. Brian told me to think of it as my birthday present to myself!





So, I got it in the mail this week. I spent the better part of a day getting it set up. I had some trouble getting the program installed on my computer, but a few phone calls to Bodybugg and they were able to fix the problem I was having. Once I got it loaded, I answered several questionnaires and then I was ready to go.

Luckily, I got it set up just before I was ready to do my workout. I put the armband on ( it is just like you see on the Biggest Loser) and put the disply on the watchband and strapped it on my other arm. You wear the bodybugg on your left arm, so I am wearing the watch/disply on my right arm.

The display gives you up to the moment measurements. Calories burned, steps taken, how long until you reach your activity goal. It also shows the time.

I really thought that I moved enough during the day. I mean afterall, I work out at least one time per day, sometimes 2. Wow, this was an eye-opener for me. I don't move near enough! I'm also consuming more calories than I thought. You have to input the foods you eat into your online diary. This will show you calories in vs. calories burned.

The Bodybugg is a bit pricey, but I really think overall that it is worth it. Right now, you can get the Bodybugg and the display for $249.00. Chalene Johnson, creator of Turbo Jam and Chalene Extreme has graciously worked a deal for us!! You can save $15 off your purchase with this discount code! bbgcj24

I think that using this will help me get the last 5 lbs off. I know exactly what I am doing and what I need to do to get last of the weight off! NO MORE EXCUSES!!!!

From the 24 Hour Fitness website:

The revolutionary new bodybugg makes it easy to manage the calories you consume and burn so you always stay in control of your weight. Get started with a personal phone coach. Then manage your results daily on our user-friendly web based program.

As reported in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2008 edition, the bodybugg armband achieved average accuracy rates of 90% in studies comparing calorie expenditure measurements from the bodybugg device to calorie expenditure measurements in a metabolic chamber (the "gold standard" of calorie expenditure measurement).

• it's easy - monitor how much you exercise, manage how many calories you eat, then track if you are burning more calories that you are consuming

• it's flexible - eat what you want, when you want, workout on your own terms

• it's customized - your program is based on your age, weight, height and personal goals

• it's personalized -
o start with a 45 minute session with your personal phone coach
o view your progress with a 6 month subscription to the web based nutrition program, included with the initial purchase of the new bodybugg

Melissa's

I have had the great pleasure of trying some of the wonderful products from Melissa's. Their produce is amazing! The mango is one of the best I have tasted. So sweet and fresh. I also tried some passion fruit. I hadn't ever tried passion fruit and it was tasty. It does have a different texture, if you have texture issues, I suggest you stay away from passion fruit. It is a jelly-like texture with seeds in it. I really thought the flavor was a bit tangy. I loved it and will have it again!



I also tried their carrots, beets and lentils. These are pre-packaged and ready to heat and eat. It's a great way to get your veggies in - in a hurry! The beets and carrots were really good! So easy to fix. I LOVE lentils. This was much easier than having to cook your own. So quick and good!!!!

Melissa's has great recipes on their website. Check them out here. This recipe sounds so good. I love apples in the fall and this would be a great dessert to make with your kids.

Baked Apples Stuffed with Banana & Raisins
(Serves four)


Ingredients
4 Organic apples (topped, cored, hollowed out)
2 Organic bananas
1 cup raisins
4 Tbsp. butter (softened)
4 tsp. apple juice (no sugar added)
6 oz. Agave Cinnamon Sauce (optional)
Agave Cinnamon Sauce:
2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
6 oz. Melissa's Organic Low Glycemic Agave Syrup


Combine and heat for 20 seconds in microware just before serving.


What the supervising adult should do:
- Stem and slice ¼ inch off the top of apples
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Handle the two phases of oven baking the apples.


What kids can do:
1. Hollow out apples with melon baller.
2. Slice bananas into ¼ inch rounds (or see #3 option).
3. Mash bananas and combine with raisins in a small bowl.
4. Measure and combine Agave Syrup with cinnamon.
5. Measure out apple juice for each apple.
6. Fill each half-baked apple with bananas and raisins.


Preparation
Coat the inside of each apple cavity with 1 tsp. apple juice. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, cool to touch. Fill each apple with stuffing ingredients using half a banana and ¼ cup raisins per apple. Each apple can be filled with either alternating layers of bananas and raisins or a mashed mixture of both together. Top each apple with a small dollop of soft butter. Bake the stuffed apples for 15 more minutes at same temperature uncovered. Drizzle a small amount of cinnamon sauce over each apple and serve.

Melissa's has great products and you can find them in most grocery stores and health food stores.




Established in 1984, Melissa's/World Variety Produce, Inc. is currently the largest distributor of specialty produce in the United States. With over 800 items available at any given time, Melissa’s imports and distributes exotic fresh fruits and vegetables from around the globe. Here’s a reference to its food safety program, and a reference to logistics.

Look for Melissa's in the stores for great products you can rely on!

Apple Butter Recipe

I had a request for the apple butter recipe. I got it from the Vita-Mix website. If you don't know about the Vita-Mix, you should check it out! I use mine every single day! This is a great recipe and super easy. Just takes a few minutes to get it all ready and then you let the crock pot do the rest!

6 apples (preferably MacIntosh) stems removed, quartered with seeds and skins
5 cloves or 1 tsp ground
1/2 cup apple cider
1/2 inch square piece fresh ginger or 1/2 tsp ground

Place apples, cloves and cider in Vita-mix (blender) secure lid. Turn on machine and quickly increase speed to 5-6. Run for 10 seconds untill chopped. If necessary, use a tamper to press any ingredients into the blades while processsing. Quickly increase the speed to max. Run for 3-4 mins until mixture is smooth.

Reduction
1 tsp Allspice
1/4 cup dark brown sugar (I use sucanat) or honey
2 tsp cinnamon

Spray insides of crockpot for easy cleanup. Pour ingredients from Vita-mix container into crockpot. Cook 4 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low uncovered until mixture is dark brown. Freeze or process for canning any leftovers. Recipe may be multiplied.

Congratulations to Kaci!!

Kaci is the winner of the Shakeology workout! I have sent you an email, please get back with me so I can get your workout in the mail!

Thanks to everyone that entered!

Don't forget the next giveaway ends Sept 25th. (FoodShouldTasteGood tortilla chips!)

Stevia Extract in the Raw!

I cut regular sugar out of my diet years ago. I just try my best not to eat anything with white sugar in it. When I was researching sugar alternatives (I do not mean atrificial sweeteners - YUK!!), I came across Stevia.

From Stevia Extract in the Raw's website:

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is an herb in the compositae family that grows as a small shrub in parts of Paraguay and Brazil. The glycosides in its leaves make it incredibly sweet, a property that is unique among the nearly 300 species of stevia plants. Stevia has been used to sweeten beverages and medicines for over 400 years. A scientist named Antonio Bertoni first recorded its use by native tribes in 1887.

Stevia is now grown and harvested in many countries around the world, predominantly China and Brazil. It has also been vastly popular in Japan for more than three decades, now representing 41% of that country's sugar substitute market. Stevia is also found as an ingredient in many products, such as ice cream, bread and soft drinks, throughout Asia and South America.

In the past, I have used the stevia sweetener, but it had a bit of an aftertaste that I didn't really like. I continued to use it in my tea and in some recipes, but it wasn't my go-to sweetener. Since I've tried Stevia Extract in the Raw, I am loving it. There is no aftertaste at all!

Unlike certain other stevia brands, Stevia Extract in the Raw does not add sugar alcohols (like Erithrytol) and or other sucrose based sweeteners (like isomaltulose) to mask what nature intended. Stevia Extract in the Raw simply delivers the natural sweet flavor of the stevia plant.

Click here to find a store near you that carries Stevia Extract in the Raw or you can purchase it online here.

I keep a few packets in my purse to use when I am dining out. It's easy to carry and so much better for you than artificial sweeteners.

Stevia Extract in the Raw has been kind enough to send me a box of their Stevia Extract in the Raw to give to you!

I will make it easy to enter the giveaway:

1) Go to Stevia Extract in the Raw and find your favorite recipe and leave a comment about it

2) Become a follower of my blog - leave a comment to let me know

3) Become a follower of my facebook fan page - leave a comment to let me know

4) Grab my button and post it on your blog - leave the link for me to check it out

Winner will be chosen on Sept. 30 by random.org!


This looks really yummy and it only has 5 calories:

100% Natural Lo-Cal GINGER ALE

Homemade soda is a treat that you can feel good about. To make this thirst-quenching low calorie Ginger Ale, all it takes is five ingredients and five minutes.

INGREDIENTS:
• 2 liters plain seltzer water
• 1 tablespoon pressed fresh ginger juice
• 1 fresh squeezed lemon (medium-sized)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 5 packets Stevia Extract In The Raw

DIRECTIONS:
Cut small pieces of peeled ginger root and place in a press (like the kind used for garlic). Press ginger root to produce 1 tablespoon of juice and place in small bowl. Add lemon juice, vanilla extract and Stevia Extract In The Raw. Stir to combine.

Open 2-liter bottle of seltzer and pour out 1/2 cup to make room for soda flavor mixture. Using a funnel, pour mixture into soda bottle and quickly screw on cap.

Careful! The carbonated water will react "explosively" with the natural ingredients in flavor mixture.

Allow for ingredients to mix with water and for some gas to be released from bottle prior to uncapping - by unscrewing cap just a small amount to hear “hissssss”. Pour over ice and enjoy!

Makes 8 servings.

Meatless Monday!

Today is a great day to try going meatless!! Now, don't get too upset, it's only for one day! Give it a try and if you don't want to go the WHOLE day, try one meal! Eating more fruits and veggies is so good for your body and there are so many wonderful recipes for you to try!!!!

How about a smoothie for breakfast, oatmeal with flax seed and fruit. Lunch could be a nice veggie stir-fry with brown rice or a great veggie soup with corn bread. Dinner could be a great salad with veggies and nuts or beans and rice. Lots of options!

I am currently participating in a Back to Booty School BLAST at marilu.com. We are having a BLAST!!! We are working on eating mini-meals, mostly meatless and getting in more exercise, better sleep and just eating healthy! This is one of my favorite classes that Marilu teaches. I love the back to school time. It's a great time to start over again, just like New Year's Eve.

Today's recipe comes from Marilu's class!

Power Rice & Rye

serves 6

2 cups brown rice

1 cup rye berries

3 cups water

2 cups vegetable broth

2 small carrots, chopped

1 celery stalk, chopped

1 cup kale, finely chopped

1/2 onion, choped

1 cup green beans

1/2 cup water

Braggs Liquid Aminos to taste

In a large saucepan, mix brown rice, rye, water, veggie broth, carrots, clelery, kale and onion. Bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer 20-25 mins until rice and rye are tender and have absorbed liquid. In a small saucepan, bring green beans and water to a boil. Cook for 2 mins and drain. Combine rice and rye with green beans and season with Bragg's Liquid Aminos.

If you can't find rye berries (this can be found at your local health food store) you can use all brown rice or wheat berries. Spinach can be substitued for kale and soy sauce can be subbed for the Bragg's.

This is a great recipe. I love it and use it in my veggie soup!

Enjoy! Be sure to check out marilu.com for great health advice!

This is me and Marilu in Oklahoma City last year. She was on her book tour for Wear Your Life Well: Use What You Have to Get What You Want. (Excellent book - get your copy at amazon.com)

Want a chance to win $$ by working out?

Get Fit. Get Healthy. Get Support!

Would money and cool prizes motivate you to workout? If so, then you have to join as my free customer and participate in WOWY! WOWY stands for Work Out With You. It is an online super gym. You can see other people working out at the same time you are, what workout they are doing and you get a chance to win just for logging your workout! What more could you ask for? The prizes are good - ipod, digital camera and camcorder and CASH!!! $300 or one day per week is the $1000 day!

TODAY - September 11, 2009 is the $1000 day!

You can do any workout you like, it doesn't have to be a Beachbody workout. You can walk, jog, swim, aerobics, pilates, yoga. Whatever you like to do! Just upload a picture of yourself (don't worry it can be a headshot) and log your workouts daily. If you are a club member, then you don't do anything else. If you are not a club member, you just fill out a short form after your workouts and you are entered!

I've had 3 of my customers win. Brian H from MO won twice ($300 and $1000) and Julia R. from OH won $300!

Sign up to be a free player here. Not only do you get a chance to win, but a free coach (me!!) to help you reach your fitness and health goals.

There are two great ways to join Team Beachbody:

Free membership gives you a variety of workout tools and community support to help you get results.

Club level membership gives you a 10% discount on all purchases plus full access to the entire Team Beachbody community, including exclusive video content, VIP access to your favorite Trainers, and customizable meal plans to ensure you get all the motivation and support you need to get in the best shape of your life.

Let me know if you have any questions or comments. I LOVE comments :) Also, if you like the blog, why not become a follower?

Remeber, the Shakeology workout giveaway ends Sept. 15!!! Just a few more days to enter. I've made it very easy to enter!

It's all THAT and a BAG OF CHIPS!

I am in LOVE with FoodShouldTasteGood tortilla chips!

I love food and have been working in grocery stores and restaurants since starting my first job in high school. The most important lesson I learned along the wayis that food tastes best when it is made with quality ingredients and thoughtful preparation. This simple idea inspired me to take sholesome, all natural ingredients and capture their great flavor by baking them INSIDE a chip to create a new kind of snack. It just fel right to call my company FoodShouldTasteGood. It's a lot of work to live up to the name, but I wouldn't want it any other way. - Pete Lescoe, Founder FoodShouldTasteGood, Inc.

These are all natural tortilla chips, made with wholesome ingredients. Gluten, Trans Fat and Cholesterol Free. Non GMO too!

The Chocolate is really yummy. Semi-sweet chocolate, Dutch cocoa, vanilla and sea salt! It is sweet and salty at the same time. Brian and I had these for our snack this afternoon. I couldn't stop eating them. They are not overpoweringly (is that a word????) chocolate. It is subtle and sooo good. I think these would be awesome with the strawberry salsa recipe I posted a few weeks ago. (Tuesday, June 23rd post) They would also be good with softened cashew cream or ice cream for you dairy eaters!!

Olive is AHHHH-MAZING! Black, Green and Kalamata Olive with Garlic and sea salt. Need I say more??? Very yummy by themselves, but I'd bet they are just as good with salsa or hummus or both!

FoodShouldTasteGood has many other flavors as well. Jalepeno, MultiGrain, The Works!, Buffalo and Sweet Potato just to name a few. I can't wait to try them all! Find a store near you here. Join the Fan Club and get a coupon for $1 off. Food Should Taste Good has won several awards: NASFT Most Outstanding Snack Sofi Award, Shape You 2008 Gear award for the Top Gear of the Year Award, Natural Products Expo East 2007 for the Best New Product Award and the ebrandaid.com for the Best Brands Seal of Approval. Wow, that is really impressive!!

FoodShouldTasteGood was kind enough to give me 2 coupons so that you could have a chance to try them also. I will make it easy to enter and you can have 4 chances:

Be sure to leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry:

1) Go to FoodShouldTasteGood and tell me which flavor you would get if you win.

2) Grab my button and place it on your blog - be sure to leave me the link to check it out!

3) Become a fan of my feeling fit with dana facebook page (if you already are, just leave a comment saying so)

4) Lastly, sign up to be my free customer at missourifitclub.com (if you already are, just leave a comment saying so)

Once again, be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. Drawing will be on Sept. 22. and will be chosen by random.org.

My Health Story

I get a lot of people asking me why I completely changed my diet and lifestyle. Well, it isn't any secret. I just wanted to feel better and knew that I HAD to make a change.

I suffered from migraine headaches every week, sometimes twice a week. I was walking around in a daze and really felt horrible every day. When I didn't have a migraine, I was recovering from one or getting one. I was taking so much medication that I developed an ulcer and was getting arthritis in my joints. I was not a happy person. My kids and hubby can attest to this. So, I knew that changes had to be made. I was seeing several doctors and no one could tell me what was going on and why I was feeling so bad.

I started going to massage therapy ( I still go once a month now and love every minute of it!!) and Connie, the massage therapist, told me that I should consider changing my diet. She was following the Hallelujah Diet. This is a vegan diet that is mostly raw food. I decided that it couldn't hurt to try. So, I changed my diet. It wasn't easy and I was so surprised that as I ate healthier, my headaches were getting fewer and farther between. HALLELUJAH INDEED!! As I did this, the doctors decided that the hormones and steriods that are given to the animals were causing the headaches. This diet was too restrictive for me. I loved soups and cooked food, a friend of mine told me about Marilu Henner's Total Health Makeover. I got the book and read it cover to cover in just 2 days. I thought, this is something that I can do! I have been following this way of eating since 2003. I don't eat any meat products or dairy. I will eat eggs occasionally. I lost 10 lbs just by giving up dairy. You could say that I was a cheese freak..... Check out marilu.com today! We are starting our Booty School class today.

Shortly after changing my diet, I decided that I needed to exercise. I started with Power 90. I saw the TV infomercial and thought it looked like a good program. I got it and got started. I liked it okay and had success. I lost a little more weight and things were toning up. Then I saw the infomercial (yes, I like infomercials) for Turbo Jam. Oh my, I was hooked on this workout. I loved everything about it. It was fun, had great music and I looked forward to working out!!! this was a HUGE change for me. I truly believe that you have to find the workout that makes you happy and you look forward to doing it, until then, you are just going through the motions!!

It was a natural progression for me to become a Beachbody coach after this. I already had a LOT of the Beachbody workouts. I like working out at home, I don't have to worry about when I will go, what I will wear. I just decide to workout and get after it! Being a Beachbody coach has really helped me to stay on track with my fitness and also to help others get in shape too. I am always willing to share my story with anyone that will listen.

I truly believe that diet is the key to good health! We need to be eating whole foods, nothing processed and drinking LOTS of water! I am now headache free, completely off all medications (other than the vitamins I take) and feel better than I did in my 30's. It really does work!!

I'd love to hear your own health story if you have one. If you have health issues and would like me to be your FREE coach, just sign up here and then send me an email at dana@missourifitclub.com and I'll help you get started on YOUR journey!

Corn and Zucchini Bread

It is a beautiful day at the lake today! This is our view from the upper deck! Brian and I are enjoying it and we just finished lunch and it was wonderful! I want to share the recipe with you!

The New Glucose Revolution Low GI Vegetarian Cookbook by Dr. Jennie Brand-Miller * Kaye Foster-Powell * Kate Marsh with Philippa Sandall

This is a great cookbook with lots of WONDERFUL looking recipes. This is the first one I have tried and it is yummy!

Corn and zucchini muffins

Serves 6

2 cups stone-ground whole wheat self rising flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels (about 3 small cobs)

2 (about 9 oz) zucchini, finely graged, moisture squeezed out

1 carrot about 4 1/2 oz findely grated

1/3 cup finely grated parmesan (I used sesame parm)

1 1/2 cups buttermilk ( I used soy milk)

2 tbsp light olive oil

2 eggs

These muffins are best eaten on the day they are made.

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 6 cup large muffin pan.

2. Place the flour, baking powder, corn, zucchini, carrot and parmesan in a large bowl and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk the buttermilk, oil and eggs together. Add to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.

3. Spoon the mixture evenly among the muffin cups. Bake for 25-30 mins or until golden and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Set asie in thepan for 15 mins before turning out. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Now, I am at the lake roughing it!!! I didn't have a muffin pan, so I made this into bread. I also didn't have any carrots, so I added in some red onion. I couldn't find self- rising whole wheat flour, so I made my own. Just add 1 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt to 1 cup flour! Easy peasy!

I served it with Garlic Cashew Spread.

This recipe is from Blossoming Lotus Vegan World Fusion Cuisine by Mark Reinfeld, Bo Rinaldi and the Chefs of the Blossiming Lotus. One of the prettiest cookbooks I own!

2 c cashews, macadamia or pine nuts

6 Tbsp olive oil

3 Tbsp lemon juice, fresh squeezed

5 med garlic cloves

1/4 c shoyu or to taste ( I used soy sauce)

Combine all ingredients in food processor and process until smooth. (this takes a while, so be patient!!)

All in all, it was a hit. Brian preferred his bread with Earth Balance on it instead of the garlic spread.

We also had homemade tomato soup. Perfect for sitting on the deck and enjoying a nice lunch on a beautiful day!

Wash those hands to prevent illness!!

With the flu season just around the corner, it's time to get prepared!

How do you prepare for flu season and why? Well, I start by taking my Herbal Immune Boost, washing my hands more frequently and eating healthy and taking care of myself. If you take the proper precautions, you should be able to stay healthy and if you do get sick, it won't last as long!

It amazes me how many people will use a public restroom and NOT wash their hands. EEWWWW!!!!! I have seen some people not wash their hands, but use hand sanitizer from their purse. I'm of the belief that you should always wash your hands and then if you still want to use the sanitizer, then go ahead LOL! I also think you should wash your hands frequently during the day. Especially if you are out in public or work around children. School has just started and already the flu is spreading like crazy! Brian thinks airplanes are full of germs and I tend to agree with him. Brian is a bit of a germ-a-phobe, so we always carry hand sanitizer when we travel. So, wash your hands more frequently to help prevent the spreading of germs.

Most people know how to wash their hands or do they?

Follow these instructions for washing with soap and water:
Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid soap or use clean bar soap. Lather well.
Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 to 20 seconds.
Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
Rinse well.
Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.
Use a towel to turn off the faucet.

I also take Herbal Immune Boost. This is a great product and has really helped me to prevent illnesses.

Herbal Immune Boost

Stop colds before they start with this natural formula. It gives your immune system a jump start so you can stay healthy while you're Pushing Play.*

Stay healthy the all-natural way! Herbal Immune Boost naturally strengthens the immune system during times of stress and high germ exposure. It's great to take when traveling by plane or at the beginning of the winter season, because it:
Strengthens the immune system*
Protects against harmful toxins*
Enhances the body's ability to fight stress-related illness*

Stay healthy for your fitness program Staying healthy is crucial to your fitness progress. Whether you're doing Slim in 6®, Power 90®, or any other exercise program, it's vital to maintain good health so you can give your best efforts on a consistent basis.

Experience the natural preventive powers of astragalus Beachbody's unique proprietary formula contains some of the most effective natural ingredients for boosting the immune system. In particular, the Chinese herb astragalus has been used for centuries to strengthen the body's immune system.

And, as with all our supplements, you can be sure it's been thoroughly tested and exceeds the most stringent standards for safety and potency.

Supplement Facts
Serving Size 2 Capsules
Servings Per Container 30
Amount Per Serving % Daily Value**
Proprietary blend containing: 950 mg
Astragalus (Root) Extract, Codnopsis (Root)
Extract, Ganoderma Powder, Siler (Root)
Powder, Schizendra (Fruit) Powder, Licorice
(Root) Powder, Ligustrum Lucidum (Fruit)
Powder, and Atractylodes (Rhizome) Powder.
**Daily Value (DV) not established
OTHER INGREDIENTS: Gelatin capsules, cellulose,
and magnesium silicate.

$19.95 for a 30 day supply, get yours today here.

Eating a healthy, balanced diet will also help you to prevent illness. Whole grains, fruits and veggies are your best bet!

In order to be healthier you should:

Take more vitamins - vitamin C will help your immune system, if you don't want to take a pill, then eat a wide variety of foods to get all the nutrients you will need. Eat the rainbow! This means that you eat foods in every color! Skittles don't count......

Eat less fat - a diet high in fat will only make you fat. Watch the type of fat you eat. Eat healthy fats such as nuts, avocadoes and olive oil.

Get more fiber in your diet - fiber fills you up and will keep you from overeating and it will help keep your digestive system working properly. Foods with a lot of fiber include: whole grain breads, whole grains, fruit, vegetables, nuts and beans.

Eat less sugar - you shouldn't eat white sugar at all. No nutritional value at all. Try Sucanat, pure maple syrup, agave nectar or stevia. I prefer not to use artificial sweeteners. They are all chemicals and so bad for you.

More complex carbs and less simple carbs - complex carbs will help you to keep your blood sugar in check. Simple carbs, such as white rice, bread and pasta will just elevate your blood sugar and can cause weight gain. Go for whole grains - brown rice, quinoa, millet, whole wheat pasta or breads.

I think you can't get enough onion and garlic. I think they have healing properties. Add them in to your meals where you can!!

Let's all do our part to stay healthy and stop the spread of the dreaded flu bug!

Time to Make the Doughnuts....

When I was growing up, the Dunkin' Donuts commercial showed the guy going in very early in the morning to make the doughnuts every day. He was dragging his rear-end and wanted to just stay in bed. It was funny and the phrase - time to make the doughnuts - was born. These days that is how I feel in the mornings, only I am having to make the coffee. Now mind you, I don't drink coffee. I love the way it smells, but can't stand the taste. Brian on the other hand is a different story. He LOVES coffee, lots of it too! Since his accident, I have to get up and get the coffee made for him. This is not the problem here. Once the coffee is made, he likes to drink it all and of course, he can't get up and get it himself. So, I am his legs. Herein lies the problem.....
He waits until I am settled in to ask for more coffee. When I am typing my post for the day, "Can I get another cup of coffee?" When I am eating my breakfast, "Can I get another cup of coffee?" Sorry, just had to get another cup of coffee.....

Now, don't get me wrong, I am not really complaining that much LOL! It's a timing issue. While I am all snuggled in the bed, he will ask me if I will make the coffee. So, every morning I get up and make the doughnuts.

My new blog design and a GIVEAWAY!!

I am so excited for the new design of my blog! It is so fun and full of energy, just like me :)

Jessica at This That and Your Blog did an amazing job! Thank you so much Jessica!!!! Be sure to stop by her blog and show her some love and if you are in need of a re-design you can NOT go wrong with her!

In honor of the new blog, I am hosting a giveaway! This is going to be so much fun!!!


I am giving away a copy of thenew Beachbody Shakeology workouts! These are great workouts and I know that you will love them and get great results from them!!

The Workouts


This set of 2 DVDs contains a 30-minute workout sequence and a 50-minute workout sequence. While you're first starting out, we recommend you do the 30-minute workout three times a week. Then rotate in the 50-minute workout once a week. Go at your own pace, but kick it up a notch as soon as you're ready to, and don't be afraid to push yourself. Soon, you'll notice more muscle tone and fewer food cravings. Before you know it, you'll have enough strength and energy to tackle The 50 three times a week.


The 30

The 30 is a classic workout. It's a balanced combination of cardiovascular intervals—to burn calories—and time-tested strength moves that will tone your muscles and build your metabolism.

The 50

Your body will continue to progress on its path toward total wellness with The 50. As your body becomes stronger and more efficient, The 50 will accelerate your progress—your strength, cardiovascular fitness, and flexibility—in an easy-to-follow format.

I'm going to give you several chances to win!

• Leave a comment telling me your favorite workout
• Follow my blog ( if you already do, just leave me a post)
• Sign up to be my free customer at missourifitclub (if you already are, just leave a post)

So, 3 ways to win, be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry! The winning comment will be chosen on Sept. 15!

This giveaway is not sponsored by Beachbody, I am sponsoring this one as an Independent Team Beachbody Coach! Beachbody coaches are not eligible to win, sorry!!

44? Really?

Today is my 44th birthday! I can't believe that I am 44! I don't feel 44. I remember when I was younger and thought that 40 was old. I still feel like I am in my early 20's, where in the world did all this time go?

Things are sagging that shouldn't be, my hair is falling out like crazy, but for the most part, I don't feel old! Actually, I think I am in the best shape of my life. Thanks to my job with Beachbody, I have been exercising and eating healthy for some time now. It has made a world of difference in how I feel and look.

I have so many reasons to be thankful on this day! Brian is here with me, he is the love of my life and my best friend. We have been married for 25 years now and I can't imagine him not being here. He is recovering nicely from his motorcycle accident and we are coping with the recovery. My kids are all out of the house and on their own for the most part. I think we did a pretty good job raising them. They are good kids. They may not make the best choices all the time, but on the whole it's all good. Our new grandbaby is the most beautiful baby ever. LOL! We might be just a little biased :)

I am fortunate that I can work from home. This has made such a difference in being able to stay home with Brian during this recovery. I would've had to quit my job if I worked outside the home!

So, all in all, life is good and 44 is just a number.