#CLICK 'n with Casein and a Total Body Sculpting Giveaway ends 10/05/15

I'm sure that you all know by now that I am still on my weight-loss journey.  I've had several setbacks due to health issues this year, but I am still pushing toward my goals.  I refuse to give up.

I'm quite sure that you all know my greatest weapon is the Espresso Protein Powder from Drink Click.  It's my go-to breakfast and late evening snack.  This is my life-line when I fall.  It keeps me going and keeps me healthy.

Now, I realize that there are other protein powders on the market. I've tried a few in the past. Why didn't I stick with any of them? Because they were all Whey Protein powders.  Is that bad? No, not really.  But I could NOT get used to the taste or after-taste of those powders.  I also didn't care for the way the whey protein metabolizes and I could not get past their inability to completely dissolve -- clumps are just not appealing.

Then I discovered my beloved Click Coffee Protein Powder!  What's the difference between Click and other protein powders?

It's the Casein Protein.  Casein is a milk protein.  It has no unpleasant after-taste, it dissolves completely, and it metabolizes in the most optimum way.

  

Proteins are composed of both essential and nonessential amino acids:

Essential amino acids must be obtained through food as the body cannot synthesize these.
Nonessential amino acids are still important to construct our body’s proteins. The name just means it is not necessary for us to ingest them because our bodies can synthesize them.

1. Casein’s greatest strength is timing. Casein has the ability to provide your bloodstream with a slow and steady flow of amino acids that could last for hours. Casein is better used at bedtime. While you sleep, you have the greatest opportunity for muscle repair, and casein can aid in that type of repair throughout the night since it produces seven hours of steady elevation of amino acids.

2.  A recent study concluded that a 25% increase in casein intake while dieting boosts energy expenditure, protein balance, satiety, and negative fat balance, which is beneficial to body weight management

3. Studies have shown that casein has anti-catabolic abilities. In other words, it prevents or minimizes the breakdown of hard-earned muscle. 

4. No unpleasant after-taste or clumping.

Now, I am a big fan of getting in at least two servings of fruit each day and I much prefer it at breakfast.  So I just add it to my Click!

Here's my early morning recipe:

1/2 ripe banana
1/4 cup sliced strawberries (frozen or fresh)
10 ounces low-fat milk
2 scoops Click protein powder
Ice (or even better, cubes made from frozen coffee!!!)

1. Assemble ingredients

2. Add milk, coffee cubes, fruit, and powder

3. Blend well!

Drink it up and enjoy!

Now, another thing I have found useful over the years is a community of other women and men who are sharing this same journey.  That community is Spark People and I've been a member for several years.

If, like me, you need encouragement, support, and advice then Spark People may help you!

To help you on your weight loss journey, I am offering one winner a Spark People-based workout DVD, Total Body Sculpting.  

Just follow the entry instructions below for your chance to enter!

Open to USA, 16+, No PO Boxes.   Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. on October 5, 2015.  All entries are verified.

Entry-Form

DISCLOSURE:
This giveaway is sponsored by Gathering My Roses.  The prize was purchased privately and this giveaway is not associated with or sponsored by DrinkClick or SparkPeople.  All opinions expressed herein are my own and based on my own use of and experience with the items.

#RealisticResolution with Gorton's and Spark People! Review and Giveaway!

DISCLOSURE: I received a prize package as compensation for this review. However, ALL opinions expressed herein are my own and based on my own use of and experience with the items.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

The New Year always brings about a yearning for change and improvement. It's time to make those resolutions: Lost 100 pounds... give up snacks and sodas... stop drinking / smoking / having fun.

You get the drift.

How long do most resolutions last? Less than 72 hours. Yep... less than three days. Why? Because most of us set ourselves up for failure by setting goals too high to reach. 

Not this year. 2015 is the THE year for the #RealisticResolution!

What are Realistic Resolutions? They are a set of small, attainable goals that can be reached in a timely fashion.

Gorton's Seafood has teamed with Spark People to create a series of tips, suggestions, workouts, and recipes to help you make those resolutions a reality!

Gorton's Seafood  has so many delicious varieties of fish available: Tilapia, Haddock, Alaskan Pollock, Salmon, Flounder, Shrimp, and Clams! And we ALL know that fish is an extremely healthy, diet-friendly, food.  Did you know that Gorton's offers eleven (11) gluten-free items? ALL of their grilled products are GF! None of their products contain MSG!

Tilapia is my favourite and this is a great recipe!


Gorton's has offered my readers a coupon to try one of their amazing fish dishes -- just click here!

You may also enter the Gorton’s Eat Smarter Sweepstakes for a chance to win fabulous prizes!

I encourage you to join me at Spark People (it's FREE to join!) and make your New Year's
Realistic Resolutions!

Together, we can lose weight and improve our health! I've lost 43 pounds and still going strong!

As an incentive, Gorton's and Spark People have offered my readers a chance to win a fabulous prize pack: 2 full-value product coupons, an insulated tote, the SparkPeople Cookbook, the Spark book and the SparkPeople Boot Camp DVD.

This is the same package that I received! How cool is that?  

You may connect with Gorton's on their social media pages:
Gorton's Seafood on Facebook,  @gortonsseafood on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

To enter for a chance to win this prize pack, just fill out the entry form below. The more entries you make, the more chances you have!

 ***Open to USA only, please. No PO Boxes. All entries are verified. Contest ends on Saturday, January 17th, 2015. ***

DISCLOSURE: I received a prize package as compensation for this review. However, ALL opinions expressed herein are my own and based on my own use of and experience with the items.

Entry-Form

New Weight Loss Blog Post!

I've lost 19 pounds in eight weeks!   You can read about it HERE! #HalfwayThere

Terri :)

New posts on my weight loss blog!

I've got a couple of new posts and updates on my weight loss blog! Just Click on the BODY IN PROGRESS tab at the top of this page or click here!

Terri

Chasing Onederland.

If you have never been thin... then obese, it will be hard for you to understand how important it is to live in Onederland. 

Yes, I spelled it right.  *ONE* as in the one hundreds rather than the two hundreds (or more).  It can be a long chase... *ONE* likes to sneak around... hide... disappear for a while.  Still, the chase goes on.

I've caught sight of it.  Oh, yes. In 2009, I came within 35 pounds of the elusive 199.

Then, in a moment of extreme stupidity, I watched it flee.  The dreaded numbers just came creeping back.  I ALLOWED myself to fail -- I did nothing to stop it.  Let's be real: I aided and abetted and encouraged it.  I failed simply because I gave myself permission to fail.

I'm not going to do that again.

I give permission to myself to succeed.

I don't care what anyone says: There are things you cannot do when you are obese (fat).  And there are oh so many things that you want to do.

I'm not perfect and I know I'll have days when things don't go the way I want them to go. I'll persevere.  I'll move forward. I'll make it work to my advantage.

I'm back at my beloved Spark People -- tracking my weight, my nutrition, my activity / fitness.  I participate. That's the best way for me.  I am involved and I am honest about my struggles.

I weigh in on Sunday mornings.  I have Mike read it out to me (to keep the desire to cheat at a minimum), then I go to my weight tracker and type in those numbers.

I've lost 10 pounds in a little over 3 1/2 weeks.  Low and slow.  That's okay by me.  I didn't gain this weight in a day and I won't lose it in a day, either.

If you'd like to join me,  I'd love to have new Spark Friends!  I'll support you and cheer you on!

Oh... *ONE*derland?  That's about 82 pounds away.  It's going to take some time... but it IS going to happen.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
~~ 1 Corinthians 10:31 ~~ 

The Long Weigh Down

If you look at the top of this blog, you'll see a new page:
The Long Weigh Down

That page will tell the story of my weight-loss journey.  It's name has two meanings: The long time I have been weighed down and the time it will take to lose the weight. 

It's really not easy to admit openly that one is obese. It's not easy to share the struggle. However, I truly believe that sharing is part of the journey.

I invite you to walk along with me... share your stories... hopefully, offer suggestions and encouragement.  I will be happy to cheer you on as well.

I am a long-time member of Spark People -- my member name there is LifeNProgress.  I hope you'll join me there as well.  It's a completely FREE site.  It has weight loss programs, nutrition / exercise trackers, forums, blogs, articles, videos, and more.

In 2009, I lost 66 pounds on the Spark People program.  It was MY OWN fault that I went back to my old way of thinking and eating. I will endeavour not to do that again.

Later, I will post my current weight. It's embarrassing. It's also necessary to success. Denial gets you nowhere.

When I post to my social media pages, I'll be using the hashtag: #LongWeighDown -- I invite you to do so as you join me in this journey.

Terri

Spark People and me... a continuing journey.

I'm overweight.  I am... obese.

I hate saying that... hate admitting it... hate making it real. But it's true... it real... and it is, at this moment, what I am.

It's been this way for quite a long time. I can even pinpoint exactly when it began: March 1991.  At that time... I stood 5' 3" and weighed 135 pounds.  And now... it's 250+.  No one is to blame -- but me.

I lost my Aunt Louise. She had been my best friend, running buddy, and co-conspirator all of my life. And in March of 1991... she slipped away from me, ravaged by COPD and an addiction to cigarettes as powerful and debilitating as an addiction to heroin.

I took comfort in food. I ate to forget and I ate to hide myself away from the pain. If I had known I was Clinically Depressed, I might've sought a doctor. But I found solace in food. By the time I was 7 months pregnant, I weighed 200 pounds. That was 1992.

In the weeks just before I gave birth, I lost my Pop. In August of 1994, I lost my Nanie.

In all, I lost 27 family members in less than three years. I just kept on eating. Gaining and eating... sometimes, I would only eat once a day... but that's WORSE than eating three times a day!

Finally, in April 2009, I decided enough was more than enough. I looked around for free weight loss programs on-line. I found Spark People.

In the year that I followed the Spark People program, I lost 66 pounds. Oh, I was within reach of my goals. But I just stopped. Fear of success? Laziness? Stupidity? I don't know. I stopped and haven't really gone back.

Until now.

I am not going to allow food and depression control me. I am 53 years old and this is MY life and my time to shine.

If you want to lose weight, get healthier, maintain your weight, learn to eat a better diet, etc. then Spark People may be for you! You can track your nutrition, weight loss, fitness... you can do that at Spark People!

Blogs, forums, trivia, polls... It's all there!

I have a Team that I created several years ago: Team Stitchaway where you meet others, post, talk about anything.

I hope you'll join me at Spark People and start your journey on the road to a healthier you!

DISCLOSURE: This was post was not sponsored by nor affiliated with Spark People. The opinions expressed herein are my own and I received no compensation of any kind.