Do you ever go to put on your workout clothes and wish you looked a little tighter, a little firmer, a little more toned?  There’s certainly nothing like donning spandex to give you a quick reality check.  It’s comfortable for working out, but the aesthetics usually leave something to be desired.

Well, Marika Miracles was invented so you can feel good about yourself in your workout attire.  Sounds too good to be true, right?  I suppose an article of clothing can only do so much, but this new shape-enhancing stylish activewear is on the right track.  Their exclusive ELASTA-TIGHT fabric supports those parts that need to be supported and lifts those parts that need to be lifted. The bras, tanks and pants help shape and contour your body with two-way stretch material so you feel comfortable and look good, and we all know that feeling good is half the battle.

I received the Miraculous Waist Cincher Tank and the Miraculous Butt Booster Capri with Tummy Control to try.

I can’t say I looked quite THAT good but it really does what it says it does.  In my Marika Miracles activewear, my tushy is lifted and tight, and my waist and stomach certainly don’t look like I’ve had three full-term pregnancies.  I am impressed with the thick, high quality fabric, and it’s comfortable for whatever activity you’re dishing out.  I can wear it running, doing Pilates, doing the Shred, or just chasing the kids around the neighborhood on their bikes.

Do yourself a favor and update your workout wardrobe.  If you’ve been struggling with motivation, it might just be the incentive you need to get back on track.  And if you’re a faithful workout queen, reward yourself with something fresh and new.

As a part of my quest for greater health, I have taken a journey to find personal care products that are safe for human use.  Now, let me clarify that statement.  When I say “safe”, I mean cosmetics and skin care that does not cause bodily harm through toxic chemicals and by-products.  I think we all need a quick lesson in what I’m talking about, so please read on.

Toxic Ingredients 101

I hate it when the list of ingredients on the bottle is so long and so hard to read that you either have to seek out translation from a chemist or, more likely, give up trying to understand it.  Let me tell you; I’m done with that.  Allow me to share some startling info with you.

Are ingredients in personal care products actually harmful?

“While some companies make products that are safe to eat, other companies choose to use known human carcinogens or developmental toxins. Nearly all these chemicals can penetrate the skin, and some we ingest directly from our lips or hands. More than one-third of all personal care products contain at least one ingredient linked to cancer. When risky and unstudied chemicals are used in cosmetics, the stakes can be high — unlike trace contaminants in food or tap water, chemicals in cosmetics are base ingredients,” as stated on cosmeticsdatabase.com.

What’s the Big Deal…or the Big Word?

Propylene Glycol – Propyl-what?  You should actually know this one because it’s in almost every personal care product you use; including, shampoos, shave gel, KY personal lubricant, and even some baby wipes.  Though it’s one of the better ones (a lessor of many evils), it still has been linked to some scary conditions…like cancer, organ toxicity, and skin irritations.

DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), TEA (Triethanolamine) – That’s a mouth full.  The three chemical musketeers (or three homicidal overachievers) are hormone disruptors and make cancer-causing agents.  What’s bad is these are found in bubble bath.  Yes, that stuff that you and your kids soak in for a long time.  And get this; it is easily absorbed by our skin.  Another common place you will find them is in your facial cleanser.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate – Another common one that some companies claim is safe for humans.  Well, it might be if you only came in contact with it a couple of times; unfortunately, if it’s in your shampoo and cleansers, you’ll experience the hazardous effects over and over.  Some concerns include, cancer, skin irritations, and organ toxicity.

Parabens – One of the easy ones to pronounce, this common preservative and fragrance additive is considered highly toxic.  In addition to being linked to cancer, it has implications in reproductive/developmental problems that include infertility, birth defects, organ cancers, and developmental delays in children.  Scary…

FD&C Color Pigments – Don’t let them fool you by listing these at the bottom; they are killers.  “For example FD&C Red #4 is no longer used in foods because of the known threat to the adrenals and bladder.” (Quoted from Suisskin.com.)  But they still use it non-food items.  You’d think they would just ban it altogether.

Alright, I think that’s enough scary stuff for now.  The point is you NEED to read every line of the labels before you buy!  Ask questions; do research; be proactive in learning about what your skin comes in contact with on a daily basis.  You may not be able to avoid every chemical, but you can make better choices for yourself and your family.  For more information on this topic, see Dangerous Beauty at Womenslifelink.com.

Resources: Cosmeticsdatabase.com, Suisskin.com

Photo by Shadow Stealer

For the past few years I’ve been complaining about my skin and my nails, and I’ve spent more time and money than I care to count trying different products to combat my weak, peeling nails and dry, rough skin.  In fact, the history of my quest for healthier hair, skin and nails is well documented in the archives here at Chic Critique.

I’ve complained to my mom over the past few years, and she always told me to consider my diet.  She pointed out that what you put IN your body is even more important than what you put ON it, and your skin and nails (and hair) are usually the first to show signs of malnutrition.  It’s not that I didn’t believe that, but I thought I had a decent diet and I could never remember to take a multi-vitamin.  So I kept trying products, hoping to find a miracle cure, and put my mom’s admonitions in the back of my mind.

Then I began researching whole foods, and I discovered the benefits of Cod Liver Oil.  I decided to try it, hoping that it would help my mood and to prevent osteoporosis, which runs in my family.  To be sure I would take it consistently, I put it with my thyroid and gastritis meds in one of those weekly medication organizers like my grandma always used.

My moods actually HAVE been better, but the real surprise came in my nails and skin.  My nails are suddenly growing like weeds, and they’ve stopped splitting for the most part.  My skin is looking better too.  I can’t think of anything else that I’m doing that would make such a dramatic difference.

Perhaps when Old Man Winter comes to town and the dry chilly air takes its toll on my body (and my moods), I’ll have to eat my words.  But for now, I’m taking my Cod Liver Oil religiously.  I’d love to know if anyone else has tried it with such remarkable results.

I have a confession to make.

I only began applying sunscreen daily within the last couple of years.

I have olive skin, which means I tan without even trying.  Burning has never been an issue for me.  And, for years, I never gave sun damage a second thought.

Until I turned 30 and looked in the mirror.

Ah.  There it was.  All my hours of sun worship taking up residence on my face in the form of hyper-pigmentation and even a few wrinkles.

All that to say, I’ve been on a bit of a mission to preserve what’s left of my skin.  Which brings me to the point of this post:  not all sunscreens are created equal.

There was a time, not too long ago, when buying a “good” sunscreen meant choosing one with a high SPF number.  Well, in recent years they’ve discovered that while UVB (burning) rays are responsible for sunburn and most non-melanoma skin cancers, it’s the UVA (aging) rays that penetrate the skin more deeply causing the majority of wrinkles and photoaging, as well as the more aggressive skin cancers.  (As a side note, tanning beds primarily use UVA rays, one of the many reasons to avoid them.)

SPF only measures UVB protection.  So, if you’re buying sunscreen based solely on the SPF number, you may not be as protected as you think you are.

What’s needed is a broad-spectrum sunscreen.  One that blocks out both UVA and UVB rays.  However, even if the bottle says “broad-spectrum” you’ve got to check the ingredients.  Federal regulations allow sunscreens and daily moisturizers with sun protection to be labeled “broad-spectrum” even if they provide only partial UVA protection.  They are working on a UVA rating system that will eventually be implemented.  Until then, here’s what to look for:

1. an SPF of 15 or higher for UVB protection

2. contains at least one of the following: Mexoryl, Helioplex, avobenzone (aka Parsol 1789), titanium dioxide or zinc oxide

While all the above ingredients block out some degree of UVA rays, the only one that blocks UVB, plus all (meaning long and short wave) UVA rays is zinc oxide.  It’s the closest thing to a “total sunblock” available.

The good news is that zinc oxide has come a long way in the last few years.  The latest formulations use a micro-fine form, which means you won’t end up looking like Casper at the pool.  What’s more, zinc oxide is non-irritating (there are no known adverse reactions) and it’s safe for sensitive skin (it’s the only thing I use on my kids). 

Another added benefit is, because it is a physical block (like titanium dioxide), you don’t have to wait 20 minutes before going out in the sun.  Once it’s on, you’re protected.

Invest in a good sunscreen this summer.  Apply it liberally and often.  And be sure to protect your neck and chest, as well as the back of your hands as part of your daily routine — whether you’re at the pool or not.

When it comes to sunscreen, the old adage holds true:  an ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure.

Originally posted in May 2008 at Life with Three.

With the official start of Spring just about a week away, I’m anticipating being able to get outside and enjoy all of the Spring-like weather at some point.  Unfortunately, it was a mild 16 degrees here in Illinois this morning, which is a little too chilly for me to consider it Spring.  Yet.  But it’s coming.  By May, I fully expect temperatures to be in the sixties. 

And when they are, I plan on getting out and enjoying myself.

Spring, Summer and Fall, I try to get out and get some exercise.  The plan is to put one foot in front of the other and shed some winter poundage. 

(And tan up the skin to a healthy glow while I’m at it.)

Of course, I’ll need some sporty new workout clothes.

And maybe some new Nikes.

And then I was thinking about a new running watch.  Or pedometer.  Or maybe a heart rate monitor.  To track my progress, of course.  And look like I know what I’m doing.

And besides, the moms that wear the running watches?  Well, they just look so darn fit, don’t they?

Though the watches were tempting, I finally decided on the Nike+iPod Sport Kit.

I had never heard of it before, but what a good idea it is.  It’s like a pedometer and running watch all rolled up into one little thingy that slips into your shoe.  It retails for $29, which is much cheaper than any running watch and probably just a little bit more than a decent pedometer.

Check this out (from Nike’s website): 
The iPod tracks your progress, providing feedback on distance, time, pace and calories burned directly through headphones
After your run, a performance summary appears on the iPod screen and can be heard through headphones.

I’m confident you don’t have to be a runner to benefit from this nifty little device.  It should work just fine for a brisk walker.  Or brisk-ish.  Or even somebody who walks as fast as their four year old can pedal a wobbling training wheeled bike down the street.

Which isn’t very fast.

But it’s about the effort here, people.  It’s about the effort.

(Or so I keep telling myself.)

And looking cute, of course.

Happy Walking!  (Or Running!)   (Or Giving it Your Best Effort!)

Today, I’m going to share a simple beauty tip that will make you instantly look five pounds thinner, while also helping you to appear more confident and self-assured.

Are you ready?

Here it is:  Stand up straight.

Good posture can cover a multitude of sins.  It’s one of the first things people notice about you.  When we slouch, we not only reduce our height, but our chest appears smaller, our belly “pooches,” and we can even experience lower back pain.

Standing up straight should be simple.  But, it’s not.

I should know.  I am, like many women, a habitual sloucher.

For the sake of illustrating a point, I managed to dig out a couple of candid shots of myself taken at my daughter’s birthday party. 

Notice the rounded shoulders?  Doesn’t that look horrendous?  I’m a 34-year-old with the posture of an 84-year-old.

Trouble is, slouching has become such a habit, I don’t even realize I’m doing it.  My husband will occassionally tap me on the shoulder as a reminder to stand up straight.  But, he’s not with me every moment of every day.  It’s hard to correct something when you don’t even realize it needs correcting.

That’s why when I read about the iPosture, I was intrigued.

The iPosture is a small device (only 1-inch in diameter) designed specifically to aid people in improving their posture — kind of like a personal posture coach.

The iPosture can be worn as a pendant, clipped to clothing, or adhered directly to the skin.  When ready, you assume the correct posture and “set” the device by pushing it once.  After that, the iPosture will lightly vibrate every time you “drop” the set posture for more than 60 seconds and will continue to vibrate until you correct it.

The iPosture is designed to be worn 4 hours a day for the first two to four weeks.  After that, you wear it two or three times a week to maintain good posture habits.

I first tried clipping the iPosture to my bra strap, but found that it didn’t maintain enough contact with my skin to detect a posture change.  So, using a special adhesive patch, I secured it directly to my skin just under the collarbone.  I was a little concerned that this setup might feel awkward and uncomfortable, but the iPosture is so light you barely notice it’s there.

The great thing about the iPosture is that it’s super-simple to use.  One button controls all the functions, and the device can easily be reset at any time, which is helpful when you change positions, say from standing to sitting.  You can also put the iPosture on pause, so when I was playing on the floor with my daughter, I didn’t need to stay stiff or unnatural.

I wore the iPosture four hours a day for two weeks.  My husband noticed an immediate improvement, and I noticed I was maintaining good posture, even when I didn’t have the device on.

But, here’s the best part.  I’ve always lamented the fact that I’m a little flat-chested.  Turns out, when I stand up straight, I actually do have a bustline that is pretty proportional to my size.  And, that baby pooch I’m always trying to camouflage?  It reduces in size significantly if I’m standing up straight.

I’m a huge fan of this device.  In fact, I still wear it a couple times a week.  I think the concept is absolutely brilliant — and it works.  If you also work on strengthening your back muscles through simple exercises (the iPosture comes with a book, Young, Sexy & Healthy, which features the ten best exercises for your posture), holding the correct posture becomes even more natural, and less tiring.

At $75 the iPosture is an investment.  But, I’ve been known to spend that much on makeup.  The iPosture is not just another ”beauty product,” it also has a direct impact on my health — and will, hopefully, keep me out of the chiropractor’s office in later life. 

So, slouchers of the world — rejoice!   With the iPosture it’s finally possible to train yourself to stand up straight, with the result being a more beautiful, confident you.

The iPosture can be purchased online at www.iPosture.com.

Before I had kids, I was one of those annoying people who claimed caffeine had no effect on them.  I would drink a cup of coffee and never notice the “burst of energy” everyone always claimed to get from that morning hit of caffeine. 

Apparently, in my early years, I was the picture of well-rested, youthful exuberance.

But then, I had my first child — the one who would wake up at 5:30 in the morning and refuse to go back to sleep. 

It was during this dark period, I managed to rescue my coffeemaker from the depths of the pantry.  I plugged it in and brewed myself a cup of warm, steaming goodness.  And this time?  You better believe I felt the difference.  It was like an instant shot of energy.  From that point on, I was hooked.

But lately, my coffee/caffeine consumption has gotten a wee-bit out of hand.  When I took a moment to think about it, I realized caffeine was pretty much the ONLY liquid I was consuming, happily alternating between coffee and sweet tea from morning till night.

If you want to wreak havoc on your beauty routine, drinking a lot of caffeine is a sure-fire way to do it.  In addition to a host of health problems, excessive caffeine consumption has been shown to thin the skin and cause dehydration, making the skin look dry and aged.  That’s a condition that no amount of makeup can remedy.  It’s okay to indulge in a daily cup of joe, but if you want to transform your skin, good ol’ fashioned H2O will do the trick every time.

The problem for me, however, is that I get bored drinking water.  I can only drink so much before I start craving something with a little more taste.

The good news is there are plenty of options for adding a little “zing” to those eight glasses a day.  Here are some of my favorite ways to “kick things up a notch.”

Skin Hydra:  If you want to add flavor to your water, do yourself a favor and nix mixes loaded with sugar and sugar substitutes.  Instead, feed your body with a supplement that can contribute to your overall health.  Skin Hydra is based on the idea that the health of your skin is determined by the nutrients you put into your body.  Packaged in convenient single servings, Skin Hydra can easily be added to a bottle of water and has a tasty pomegranate flavor.  It’s chuck full of vitamins like A, C, D and E, as well as the “Skin Hydra Proprietary Blend,” which includes nutrients such as aloe vera, pumpkin seed oil, CoQ10 and collagen to give your skin an extra boost.

Emergen C:  One little packet offers a great immunity boost, boasting 1,000 mg of Vitamin C.  It’s also full of energy-boosting B vitamins, as well as minerals and electrolytes.  Emergen C comes in dozens of flavors, although they can be a little hit or miss, with some having a more ”vitamin-y” aftertaste than others.  (I like orange best.)  But, taken really cold over ice, it’s a great addition to your daily fluid intake, especially during cold and flu season.  You can try a free sample by signing up here.

True Lemon:  I love to add a slice of lemon to my water.  Problem is, the lemons I pick up at the grocery store often go bad before I get a chance to use them all.  The answer?  True Lemon.  True Lemon is crystallized lemon.  That’s it.  No funky substitutes or sweeteners, just the real deal in powdered form.  Add it to your water and, I promise, you will not be able to tell the difference from a real slice.  (I also like to keep a few in my purse for restaurants.  Have you seen the report about lemon slices in restaurants?  Suffice it to say, it would make the strongest stomach turn.)  You can try True Lemon (and the other flavors — orange and lime) for free by signing up here.

Iced Green Tea:  Sometimes a girl still needs a little caffeine boost.   If that’s the case, brew a pitcher of iced green tea.  Green tea is loaded with antioxidants that have been touted as miracle workers for the skin and overall health.  And, it’s relatively low in caffeine, providing just enough for a pick-me-up.  There is a trick to brewing green tea, however.  Only steep it for three minutes in hot — not boiling — water.  That prevents the tea from tasting bitter.  Here’s my favorite recipe:

4 cups very hot water

8 regular green tea bags

2 cups cold water

1/4 cup of honey

In a saucepan, pour hot (not boiling) water over tea bags.  Cover and steep for three minutes.  Remove tea bags from water, squeezing gently.  Stir in honey until dissolved and add 2 cups of cold water.  Serve over ice, or let tea come to room temperature and then serve over ice.  Serves 6.

It doesn’t matter what option you choose, only that you remember to stay hydrated.  You should be drinking between a liter and a liter and a half of water daily.  Ultimately your skin, and health, will thank you.

Oh my people. There’s just not a lot of beautifying going on at my house these days.  With my 9 week old nursing every 90 minutes and my going-on-four year old soaking up the remaining 10 minutes, I’m lucky if I get to employ the basics of personal hygiene any given day.

So instead of raving over my Personal Touch Razor that’s about 439 years old and that basically hasn’t seen any part of my body since August (sigh), I’m gonna tell y’all about some products that I DO know something about here lately.  Some things that have almost literally saved my everlovin’ life since the baby was born, that’ll maybe give you a couple items to add to your own shopping list if you’re expecting or to file in the recesses of your memory banks if you ever plan to have a little one of your own.

The first product, which, at first glance doesn’t sound much like it’d have anything in this big old world to do with motherhood, is Delsym Cough Suppressant.  Right after my little Peanut made his big arrival, a cold swept through my household.  Everybody else loaded up on Nyquil and Tylenol Cold and all those other sworn cold remedies, but me?  Being a nursing Mama with a voracious little sucker to feed, I couldn’t take any of that for fear I’d harm him, or worse yet, cause the food supply to dry up.  My local pharmacist recommended plain old acetaminophen (Tylenol) for my aches and pains, a menthol inhaler for my congestion, and Delsym for my cough.  And it worked beautifully, twelve hours at a time as promised, and was safe for me and the baby.  And I could sleep, in theory, without being wakened every couple of minutes with a coughing fit.  I still got wakened every couple of minutes though, don’t doubt that for a minute.

Product number two’s more easily explained as a post partem supply.  It’s good old Dermoplast.  Seems many hospital maternity wards provide a can of Dermaplast for their new Mommies, although neither of the hospitals where I delivered did that.  But luckily for me, many of my readers at FriedOkra recommended I have some on hand for my post-delivery owies, so I did.  Well, I ended up having a C-section and didn’t have the particular owies I was expecting, so I thought my Dermoplast might go to waste.  And then they hit.  The ITCHIES!  Both my incision site AND the areas on my "belly" (wink) that had been shaved prior to surgery were on FIRE with the itchies within 4 or 5 days of delivery.  And Dermoplast worked wonders to put out that fire safely and cleanly.  Good stuff, Dermoplast, whether that baby comes out the door or the window.

Lastly, a product quite obviously intended for new mothers, is Medela’s newly formulated tender care Lanolin.  Now lanolin has been recommended for use by nursing mothers with sore parts for years and years.  And when my first baby was born I used another leading brand which worked fine to soothe and help heal the cracked, blistered, and otherwise maligned Girls.  Trouble was, that leading brand’s formulation of lanolin was very thick and sticky and applying it was as painful as the actual nursing, although admittedly it didn’t last nearly as long.  But Medela’s new version is much thinner and smoother, and it glides on more effortlessly so you don’t have to grit your teeth and curl up in a little ball while you’re getting it where it goes.   And in the end, it worked every bit as well to get those Girls back to their old selves again. 

What about y’all?  Did you find any post-partem products you’d never want to do it again without?  Tell us about ‘em the comments.

As moms we are constantly on the go.  I don’t know how many times I have said or heard somebody else say, "If only there was more time in the day."  Unfortunately many of us try to make more time by staying up until the wee hours of the night trying to get it all done or just relishing in some quiet.  However, when we do this we are often giving up something very important for our health.  SLEEP!

Sleep is essential to keeping our bodies healthy and well.  While we are asleep our body uses the time to repair itself by producing proteins, growing cells, and repairing the damage of stress.  The amount of sleep that we get also has an effect on our moods.  Medical evidence has proved there are links between inadequate amounts of sleep and the increase of anger, anxiety, stress, and sadness.  Productivity also decreases the less you sleep.  Staying up late to get something accomplished at the cost of a good night’s sleep is actually a losing situation because you may not be getting as much done during the day as you could with a full night’s sleep.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, most adults should get between 7-9 hours a night.  Personally, I am a big believer in sleep.  During the school year I am usually in bed and asleep no later than 10 (okay, so I stay up till 11 on Sundays to watch the boob tube…shhh!) and get up around 5:30.  The next day I usually feel refreshed and ready to go. 

What’s that you say?  You can’t get to sleep?  Counting sheep isn’t working, but rather keeping you awake? Well, have you tried to adjust your body to a sleep routine?  Here are some suggestions of what you can do to help get your body on a sleep schedule.

• Establish a consistent sleep and wake schedule, and try to stick with it even on the weekends.
• Create a relaxing bedtime routine.  We usually do it for our kids, why not take the time to do it for us?  Draw that bubble bath, enjoy a good book, create a playlist on your Ipod with soft music to enjoy, anything to help you relax.
• Say goodnight to your TV, computer ((gasp)), crackberry, twitter, and other electronics BEFORE you get in bed.  Save your bed for sleeping and that all-important adult time with your significant other.
• Create a sleep-conducive environment.  Make sure it is dark, quiet, and comfortable.  Having it somewhat cooler also helps you sleep better.
• Don’t eat anything 2 hours prior to your bedtime. No, not even that bedtime bowl of cereal. 
• Avoid caffeine before bedtime.  Kind of a "duh", but worth mentioning!

There you have it.  Some tips to help you get a good night’s sleep so you will be ready to tackle what life, or your kids, throw at you the next day.  You can find these tips and more at the National Sleep Foundation.

Do you have a good tip to share with others on how you get a good night’s sleep?  Leave a comment and share your tip so we can all sleep soundly tonight. 

When Mel’s not sleeping, you can find her blogging at A Box of Chocolates.

***UPDATE:  Cogratulations to commenter #42, Leah!! 

"What an exciting opportunity! I just gave birth to my first child two months ago. Before I got pregnant, I was at my all-time highest weight. I am seriously motivated to get things into gear & be fit so I can keep up with my little guy as he gets mobile. I also don’t want to be in the same place two or three years from now, when we might want to have another child. I did WW online about two years ago & lost 10 lbs. I have started walking regularly with a girlfriend 3-5 time a week, but I would LOVE to get back into the game & utilize those online tools again too! "

About a year ago I had an epiphany.  I was fat.  By doctors’ terms I may have even been obese.  I was completely unhappy with how I looked and how I felt and decided that it was time that something was done.  After talking with different people about all kinds of diets and eating plans, I decided to try Weight Watchers Online.

I had never done Weight Watchers, but I knew a few people who had and they all seemed to have success with the program.  Some had kept it off and yes, admittedly some had gained their weight back, but I don’t believe that was really a fault of the program, but rather the people themselves falling back into bad habits. Weight Watchers truly is a way of life and not just a diet so what you learn on the program must be exercised continuously. 

I signed up for Weight Watchers Online because honestly, going to meetings just didn’t interest me.  I am a self-motivated person, and if I set my mind on accomplishing something, then everybody watch out cause not much can stop me!! (Those of you who know me in real life can stop laughing now!)

Online there were also some great tools, and the techie in me had a blast using the point tracker, weight tracker, exercise tracker, recipe maker, message boards, and all the other cool E-tools.  I started tracking what I was eating, and about a year later I was 40 pounds lighter and feeling great.  I felt so great that I found myself tracking less and less so I decided to unsubscribe and see what I could do on my own. 

I did well for awhile, and then yep, you guessed it, I fell back into bad habits.  There was no way I was going to let myself go down that road again so I decided to re-subscribe to lose the last 20 pounds and reach my final goal. 

When you join Weight Watchers Online, you have the ability to choose a food plan that works for you. You can choose either the Flex Plan where you are given a certain amount of points and can eat what you choose as long as you stay within your point range, or the Core Plan where you can eat as much as you want as long as the food is a core food.

One thing about me — I do NOT do well with somebody telling me I can’t have something. So I chose the flex plan so I can use points however I choose. Of course the more fruits and veggies I eat, the more food I am allowed since they are so low in points, but if I want that Oreo cookie, it’s not a problem as long as I track it.

The food tracker is a breeze to use to keep track of your points. The majority of the foods that I eat are already in their database so all I have to do is type in the name of the food and voila, I know how many points it is. If I’m making something special for dinner then I can use the recipe builder where I enter all the ingredients, how many servings it has, and then know exactly how many points the recipe is. When eating out, most of the food is already in there so I can check the menu online and then use the tracker to find the best food for me. So easy!!

Why am I telling you all this?

I met a PR for Weight Watchers on Twitter the other day, and she gave me three three-month subscriptions to Weight Watcher Online for me to giveaway to my readers.

So now you can have the opportunity to try out Weight Watchers Online for yourself, and we can be Weight Watcher buddies! I am giving away one online subscription over at A Box of Chocolates, plus I will also be giving one away at Blissfully Domestic where I share Weight Watcher friendly recipes, and most importantly you can win one RIGHT HERE!

All you have to do to win is leave a comment here telling me why you want to lose weight. I will use random.org to choose the lucky winner on Sunday, August 24th.

Don’t forget to come over to my place for another chance to win and find out how to sign up for the 3 mo subscription giveaway at Blissfully Domestic.

Good luck.  I can’t wait to get healthier  with you!!!

You can find Mel sharing her Weight Watchers journey at A Box of Chocolates.