Fitness Friday: 14 day Slim Fast Challenge

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Krissyar

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I don’t really like the term ‘diet’ – when you really want to make a long term change, its a lifestyle change. Like any other change in your life – your diet takes time. You have to learn to adjust to going without or eating more of things that you may not like. You need to learn your body, what works for you may not work for someone else – and you have to be willing to commit to see long term changes.

However – if you are in a bit of a hurry to get a few pounds off as soon as possible like a special occasion, you are going to the course to swing some driving irons, or you have to wear a bathing suit there are things you can do to temporarily.. Some people use this as a kick start to their new diet plan, others just when they feel like they need to lose a few pounds. That’s why I did the 14-Day Slim Fast Challenge!

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By replacing 2 meals a day with a Slimfast shake or bar I lost six pounds in just two weeks!

Here’s my favorite way to do the challenge – I start off the morning with a shake. I am always in a rush in the mornings, so I just go ahead and drink a shake on my way to work. Now personally I find the chocolate shakes a bit well, chalky, but some of my friends like them just find. I prefer to get strawberries and cream which I think is good. Make sure you refrigerate it, it taste better that way.

For lunch I need to have something to physically eat – so I skip the shake for lunch and eat a meal replacement bar. Now there are 2 flavors that are my favorite, dark chocolate sea salt nut and caramel almond sea salt. They are pretty filling and do the trick until I can get home for dinner.

For dinner for the two weeks I did a simple healthy dinner. Grilled chicken, salad, green beans or corn and then maybe a carb like a baked potato or even some noodles.

The key to really losing the weight is drinking enough water. There is a ton of fiber in the shakes and meal replacement bars and if you don’t drink enough water you are going to end up feeling bloated instead of like you are losing weight.

Give it a try and let me know how it goes!

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Posted in Fitness/Health, Weight Loss | 1 Comment

Giant Leaps In Urgent Care Industry

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Krissyar

With every passing day, walk-in clinics and urgent care centers are gaining importance. They are being used more often instead of the emergency room for the fact that they provide convenient, cost-effective and high quality medical care.

According to a recent poll, walk-in medical clinics located in pharmacies, shopping malls, office parks and workplaces are getting more and more popular reporting that 27% people said that they have used walk-in clinics in the past two years. The number has increased from the initial statistics that was 7% in 2008 poll.

Why people prefer walk-in clinics over hospitals?

The main reason people choose walk-in clinics is that they’re convenient and affordable. Also,

  • Appointments are not needed, generally.
  • They’re easily located
  • One does not need to wait for a long time
  • They are available in the evenings and weekends as well
  • They usually provide a 24 hour service
  • Lastly, they are affordable

What are the key aspects for the increased popularity of walk-in clinics?

Today, many health insurance plans cover the cost of visits to urgent care centers. Most walk-in clinics have appointed trained staff who can not only diagnose an illness but also can prescribe medication. The care they provide is consistent and professional.

A study conducted recently identified the factors contributing to the growth and evolution of walk-in clinics in Ontario, Canada. These included a perceived increase in the expectations of a patient for convenient health care and a striking increase in the unavailability of family physicians. This drawback led to the increased visits to walk-in clinics due to their 24 hours availability of the professional staff and respect for life of a patient.

What kind of illnesses are urgent care centers best for?

Earlier people visited the walk-in clinics for basic health services related to colds, sore throats, minor cuts and wounds. Many clinics offer free screening tests for diabetes and cholesterol. As a result, patients have begun to use the clinics for managing their chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, to check their blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.

Does the shortage of physicians have anything to do with the increased importance of urgent care centers?

Currently there is a severe shortage of physicians in the US and other parts of the globe. The latest prediction from the Association of American Medical Colleges tells that in 2015 there will be 62,900 fewer doctors than the amount needed. Those who rush to emergency departments today, due to unavailability of physicians, will tend to visit the nearby walk-in clinic. Thus the importance of urgent care centers is expected to double by 2015 and even more in the years later.

What are the benefits of urgent care centers?

  • Upfront Pricing: Walk-in clinics offer standard prices whereas hospital prices can get double being it denoted as an emergency visit
  • First Come, First Serve: They have shorter wait times. One does not need to stand in the queue all day and wait for his turn. Unlike emergency rooms, urgent care clinics work on a first come, first serve basis.
  • Co-Pay Savings: Insurance provider co-pays are generally lower at urgent care clinics when compared to hospital emergency room co-pays.

The extended hours and immediate availability of care at walk-in clinics, provides convenience for patients. Due to its better services, people are learning that Urgent Care is a better choice over the emergency room for their immediate, non-life-threatening health care needs.

Posted in Fitness/Health | 2 Comments

New Year, New Me, NEW CLEAN with the New Mr. Clean® Liquid Muscle™

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Krissyar

This New Year cleaning resolution tips post is brought to you by Mr. Clean as part of a Type-A Parent Community Sponsored Post.

As you know one of my New Year/New Me resolutions is to get myself -and my household – more organized. Part of that process involves the painstakingly issue of cleaning the downright dirty. You know those areas you avoid all year, like behind the frig, and *gasp* behind the stove? Well I have resolved to put that on my ‘to do list’ for cleaning one a month…I’m sure it will get easier, but I am embarrassed to admit it’s probably been a year since I’ve cleaned all the crevasses and I’m a bit afraid of what I might find. Let alone how long it might take me to get it done.

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Luckily, I was introduced recently to Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle.

The new Mr. Clean® Liquid Muscle™ has 2.5 times more power in every drop vs. Mr. Clean 40oz. With its new auto-stop cap feature, Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle delivers the right amount of cleaning gel with one squeeze – free of mess. It penetrates dirt, fights grease and lifts stains with less going to waste.  Liquid Muscle can be used on a variety of surfaces, including sealed floors, tables, countertops, sinks, stovetops and more.

The Mr. Clean® Liquid Muscle™ is so sure about it’s super powerful capabilities, that they offered to clean-up the biggest mess of the year – Time Square on New Year’s Day! A 25 person “Mr. Clean Team” Check out the great stories and pics on Twitter, using Hashtag #NewYearsClean

To keep from needing to make this resolution each year – I started searching for some great cleaning charts to help keep me from getting behind again. I found this great spot-on printable chart you can use to keep your cleaning on schedule. This way you never get behind, and you aren’t stressed on what to do next. Thanks to Christine over at First Home Love Life, you can go get your free printable there (and even create your own)!

Cleaning List

MrClean_CMYKThis is a compensated post brought to you by Mr. Clean. Mr. Clean is kicking off the New Year with the launch of a new product called Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle, a new multi-purpose, multi-surface concentrated cleaning gel that delivers superior cleaning performance on and off the floor. Be sure to like Mr. Clean on Facebook and follow @RealMrClean on Twitter.

Posted in Cleaning & Organizing | Leave a comment

Jumping on the Bandwagon: What are you going to change in 2014?

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Krissyar
This is NOT a sponsored post, all ideas and thoughts are my own or ones I’ve cleverly stolen from others. I was not compensated for my time, and in fact, I am now behind in my resolution of working harder in the new year. 
 
 
 
 
We have all heard the jokes, and stories about making a New Years Resolution to do something daily, only to fail within the first week. In fact, statistics show that only 8% of people that make resolutions stick to them thru the new year.  
 
Why do we fail?
 
We put pressure on ourselves to be perfect everyday. Once we fail, we have a tendency to give up. How many times have you told yourself “well I ate that burger and fries, so I screwed up, so I might as well give up today?” Each and every choice we make whether it’s about weight loss, getting fit, or even spending more time with our family makes us one step closer to being that person that we set out to be on January 1. You are human, you aren’t perfect, and you shouldn’t expect to be. You will mess up, you will fail, but what sets you apart is getting back on the wagon each and every time you fall off.
 
How can I be in the 8%?
 
We’ve been told it only takes 21 days to make or break a habit. But new studies show it takes approximately 66 days or more for the average person to change something they’ve been accustomed to. You haven’t been able to resist that urge for a smoke, or a Coke? Give yourself time.  Even if you fail, pick yourself up and continuing to try to make the change, eventually it will stick.
Trying to lose weight? Keep your pantry FREE of bad, unhealthy foods.
Wanting to quit smoking? Stay away from other smokers, keep a pack of gum in your pocket to keep your mouth busy.
Wanting to spend more quality time with your family? Know that the work, the chores, the dishes will always be there – your family might not. Schedule the time to take with your spouse, kids/parents, and just do it!
Wanting an organized clean home? Start in one room and make your way to the rest. Make a schedule and stick to it. 
 
I’ve made a list of NEW ME Resolutions for the New Year because it’s a great time to start with a clean slate. Though I know it won’t be easy, and there will be days that I fail completely, I am going to give it 100% this year and make 2014 MY year.
 
My NEW ME Resolutions for 2014
  • Getting ‘fit’ – I’m not talking weight. The scale has never been my friend, even when I was ‘thin’. I will only weigh myself quarterly, but I will go by how I feel, my energy level, and how my clothes fit. Watching the scale on a daily, or even a weekly basis has proved to be more of a con then a pro for me. I get discouraged easily, so I won’t allow the scale to control me any longer.
  • Taking time for ME – This kind of goes with my next MElution, but I tend to be a giver. I give give and give until there is nothing left for ME. Being a giver can be a great thing, but not taking time for yourself will not only exhaust you, but make you a bit bitter as well. I resolve to take ‘me’ time at least once a day to do what make me a better person/mom/wife.
  • Quality vs Quantity time with my kids – I have always felt that every moment that I’m not at work I should be with my kids. But when I don’t take time for me, this Mama tends to get a little grumpy (little probably being an understatement). Spending time with them is more then sitting on the couch watching T.V. together, or half listening to my daughter go on about her day while I’m trying to blog or clean. Taking a half hour to really listen, or play a game, or have dinner vs an hour doing it half way, is part of my resolution as well.
  • Become Organized – I’m fortunate enough to know a professional Organizer Lisa from Organize365 who started a great Facebook page for crazy fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants people like me! I know being organized will actually help me accomplish my other goals, and she has some great tips and advice that I’ll be using this year in getting not only my house, but my life organized so I can be the best me!
  • Blog about what I love: I get a lot of opportunities as a blogger to bring you new products, events and that sort of thing. But I want to stay true to the reason why I started this blog, and provide you with Fitness Friday and Motivational Monday post more consistently then I did in 2013.
  • Volunteer – This is something I’ve felt that has been on my heart for a long time, but with my crazy life I’ve never felt like I could fit it in. I’d like to volunteer at church to help when needed, and even in the community. I want to teach my kids that it truly is better to give then receive! 
What are you going to change in 2014?
 
#happynewyear #resolutions
 
 
Posted in Cleaning & Organizing, Fitness/Health | 1 Comment

Fitness Friday: 2014 5k Races coming to Cincinnati

Posted on December 27, 2013 by Krissyar
As the year comes to an end, I look back at all the great events that I was able to participate in. Color Me Pink, Color Me Rad, The Color Run, The Neon Vibe, and my attempt at the Tough Mudder. 
The one thing that I’ve loved about all these races, is that it gives me motivation and something to look forward to. Knowing that you are going to be participating with friends, and family, and also tons of people you don’t know, gives a girl some motivation to get – and keep- in shape. That is why for 2014 I am going to do my best to sign up for every 5k (or more) that I can. My goal is that in 2014 I can complete the Tough Mudder and stand proud with my Dad and sister. 
 
2013 races final
 
 
Here’s a great list of 5k’s coming to Cincinnati (or at least close to). I will be adding more as I find them, and they get dates set.
Hope to see you there!
 

Color Me Rad – Color Me Rad will be in Cincinnati on May 17, 2014. If you’ve never participated in a color run, here’s your chance. Color Me Rad also donates some of its proceeds to a local charity, so here’s your chance to have fun and contribute to your city! 

The Color Run  – August 2, 2014 The Color Run will be in downtown Cincinnati! Proceeds will benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

The Neon Vibe – no dates as of yet for Cincinnati/Dayton. This is unique 5k, as it’s done at DARK with black lights to show off your crazy color!

The Tough Mudder – not for the faint of heart, the Tough Mudder not only tests your physical capabilities, but your mental as well. Though I didn’t complete the KY 2013 Tough Mudder, my plans are to complete it for 2014. Kentucky dates are not yet posted, but Ohio’s Tough Mudder will be in Mansfield Ohio (about 3 hours from Cincy) on May 17th & 18th, 2014.

Color Me Pink – one of my favorite charity runs, Color Me Pink for the Susan G. Koman foundation, the Color Me Pink 5k is a fun color run – made entirely of PINK! No dates are set for this one, but I will definitely keep you updated as soon as I hear back from them!

The Cincinnati Color Palooza –   Saturday June 29, 2014 at 10 a.m. Downtown Cincinnati Corner of Race St. & West Freedom Way – Color Palooza benefits Susan G. Koman foundation – this run is in place of the Color Me Pink for 2014.

#race #run #cincinnati

Here’s a list of more local races, by date. Don’t forget, the earlier you register the cheaper it is!

January –  Jan. 1, 2014 – 3.65 Resolution Run  Mason,OH
Jan 1, 2014 – Al Salvato Memorial Frostbite 5 Mile Run Ft. Thomas, KY
Jan 1, 2014 – Commitment Day 5k Cincinnati, OH
Jan 11, 2014 – Topo Trail Run #3 Big Bone Lick, KY
Jan 25, 2014 – Topo Trail Run #4  Taylor Mill, KY
Jan 25, 2014 – Winter Wonderland 5k Burlington, KY

February – Feb 15, 2014 – Cupid’s Undie Run Cincinnati, OH
Feb 15, 2014 – Fight for Air Climb Cincinnati, OH
Feb 16, 2014 – Valentine’s Labor of Love Run Highland Heights, KY

March – March 8 ,2014 – The Shamrock Shuffle West Chester, OH
March 16, 2014- Mercy Heart Mini Marathon Cincinnati, OH
March 22, 2014- Emerald Miles 5k Newport, KY
March 29, 2014 – Cincinnati Gorilla Run Cincinnati, OH

April– April 12, 2014 – Great Amazing Race West Chester, OH
April 26, 2014 – Cincinnati Urban Adventure Race Cincinnati, OH
April 26, 2014 – Rat Race Dayton, OH

May

May 3rd, 2014 – Flying Pig Marathon Cincinnati, OH
May 3rd, 2014 – Flying KIDS Run Cincinnati, OH  – part of Flying Pig Marathon
May 3rd, 2014 – Toyota 10k Run Cincinnati, OH  – 10k run instead of Marathon
May 10th, 2014 – Andy Caress Block the Sun Run 5k Cincinnati, OH
May 10th, 2014- Cincinnati Beer Run Newport, KY
May 10th, 2014 – Cincy Nation’s Mother’s Day 5k Loveland, OH
May 10th, 2014 – Forest Hills 5k Cincinnati, OH
May 10th , 2014 – Girl’s on the Run Cincinnati, OH
May 10th, 2014- Mommy has Breast Cancer 5k for kids & adults Cincinnati, OH
May 10th, 2014 – Superhero 5k Union, KY
May 10th, 2014 – Run United Hamilton, OH
May 16th, 2014 – Kilgour Carnival 5k Cincinnati, OH
May 17th, 2014 – AIM 5k Lawrenceburg, IN
May 17th, 2014 – Color Me Rad Mason, OH (at Kings Island)
May 17th, 2014 – Kenton County Veteran’s Memorial 5k  Villa Hills, KY
May 17th, 2014- OTR 5k Run Cincinnati, OH
May 17th, 2014 –Paige’s Princess Run Liberty Twp, OH
May 17th, 2014 – True Love Run COLOR RUN to benefit St. Jude’s Monroe, OH
May 18th, 2014 – Dirt Days Trail Run Cincinnati, OH
May 24th, 2014 – RGI River Run Newport, KY
May 24th, 2014 – The Candy Race Cincinnati, OH

June
June 1st, 2014 – 5k Run, Roll & Sun Mason, OH
June 1st, 2014 – Great Human Race Cincinnati, OH
June 1st, 2014 Forward in Fitness 5k Walk/Run (Winton Woods) Cincinnati, OH
June 1st, 2014 – Morgan’s Little Miami Triathlon Cincinnati, OH
June 7th, 2014 – Heel to Heal Walk/Run West Chester, OH
June 7th ,2014 – Piggy Went to the Market (5k and 10k) Cincinnati, OH
June 7th, 2014 – Race for Recovery 5k Hamilton, OH
June 7th, 2014 – Run for the Poor 5k Milford, OH
June 7th, 2014- St. Helen Festival 5k Cincinnati, OH
June 7th, 2014 – Steady Strides 5k West Chester, OH
June 7th, 2014 – Walk for Water Mason, OH
June 8th, 2014- Run for the Nets Covington, KY
June 13th, 2014- Walnut Hills 5k Cincinnati, OH
June 14th, 2014- Flag Day 5k Honoring Veterans Mason, OH
June 14th, 2014 – Lungs on the Run West Chester, OH
June 14th, 2014 – Tap N’ Run Newport, KY/Cincinnati, OH
June 14th, 2014 – Tina’s Angels Dairy Dash  Liberty Twp, OH
June 15th, 2014 – Dirt Days Trail Run Cincinnati, OH

 
Posted in Fitness Friday | 4 Comments