Swaggable: Kala Beautiful Beans Snacks #Review #KalaBeans

 

The new year also brings a fresh start and many of us seem to always start same, with the desire to better our well being via losing weight, eating better and overall taking better care of ourselves. From what reports and the news states, we all also tend to fail and abandon the idea by the time February rolls around. I blame Santa for the Christmas chocolates he leaves behind to Valentine’s Day with all the treats to add back again that you just finished eating in January 🙂 Whatever the cause, failing is not my kind of thing and with every passing year being able to maintain a healthy weight, plus lose a little here and there, I plan to remain on the healthy eating path. My problem is boredom and always has been. I dislike eating the same thing every single day as a snack. It just makes my days blend and kills my palette! I love apples but an apple even in different varieties is just different degrees of sweetness and crunch, but still remains being an apple. I sometimes crave savory and salty snacks and yes, I could dip an apple in something like a salted caramel but then I might as well just eat a piece of cheesecake! So, my ever endless hunt for brands that keep me on track has again yielded another option for us.

 

 

Kala Beautiful Beans is a new company and part of the Bush Brothers Company. Their treats come in one serving single bags or a large bag that yields about 5 servings each. At first I thought it was just foo-foo trail mixes and my hippy side admits that when I see any new trail mix or granola mix hit the market, my heart does flutter but nothing is as welcoming as seeing a new member added to the line up. Kala Beautiful Beans uses Fava Beans as their main ingredient. They are roasted and seasoned and paired up with other ingredients like Garbanzo (chickpeas) beans and dried fruits, along with spices and seasonings. Currently Kala Beans features 4 different flavors:

Pineapple Kick Medley– Roasted fava beans and orange-glazed chickpeas with pineapple, blueberries and paprika.
Cherry Trail Medley– Roasted fava beans and vanilla-glazed chickpeas with cherries, toasted coconut and dark chocolate chunks.
Simply Peppered Beans– Roasted fava beans with Himalayan salt and black pepper.
Tropical Curry Beans– Roasted fava beans with curry spice and lime juice.

You can purchase all varieties at your local Sprout’s Farmers Markets.

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Verdict:
I was unsure what to expect and the beans have a roasted peanut color and thier shape resembles a small hazelnut, but they are airy in the center. Think of a really puff corn nut but without that grainy corn feeling you get when chewing one. They break down cleanly while eating and taste ……..well, delicious. I don’t taste bean. Even the chickpeas, which I have had before taste……well, bean-y when eating after a while but the roasting method used by Kala Beans produces a more airy product. They then use other ingredients that are of high quality, so it enhances the snacking experience. Everything melds perfectly and best of all, the taste and flavors pop in my mouth so I am enjoying a healthy snack a lot more than I expected I would. My favorite was the Cherry Trail Medley, the coconut shavings are toasted but not powdery in the bag. You actually get nice sized shavings!  Then the cherries are so good because I am first to admit that sometimes when I get dried cherries and dried cranberries in a mix, I can’t always tell the difference between them because they are dried to the point that they just taste like seedy, red fruit skin. The cherries from Kala Beans are dried but in a kindly manner where they remain plump, retain their sweetness but still hit you with a tart flavor towards the end. Kala Beans then added a vanilla glaze to the product that is sweet but non-sticky on the surface. You just get that small hint and scent of the vanilla that adds a nice warmth and compliments the fruit, beans (and I want to say nuts but there are none in it), and chocolate nicely. The dark chocolate chunks are just so good and melt nicely when eating.  No waxy taste or bitterness.  I actually like the Kala Beans mixes and oddly more than some of my current trail and nut based mixes. I think it comes down to the clean taste and finish, that is both satisfying and tasty. Kills the craving and I will be buying them to add to my yogurt in the morning because a girl can only granola it for so long!  Plus, you have benefits like fiber from the beans and one bag is just 180 calories for the Cherry Trail Medley Mix and Pineapple one, but the other two only bump up to 200 calories for a 1.5 ounce serving.  That is pretty fair and not loaded with sugars and sodium, just real food with real flavors!

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I received the above product(s) free of charge from Swaggable and Kala Beautiful Beans. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

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Influenster: Slim Fast Bar, Crisps, and Shake VoxBox Review #ItsYourThing #Influenster

Being part of the Influenster network, allows members to qualify for VoxBoxes. My latest one arrived in late December, which featured an array of Slim Fast branded products. Being the new year we all want to lose weight or at the very least get rid of that holiday poundage brought on by cookies and treats. I gained 6 pounds in the last week of December because I behaved from Thanksgiving to Christmas but once Santa came, he brought treats, candy, chocolates (I’m surprised I did not consume the stocking) and it seems I ate them all between Christmas and New Year’s Eve!

I’m pretty good at restricting myself and believe with all the advancements in food today, that leaving food as it is, meaning less to zero processing allows us to eat pretty much anything (with portion control) and not suffer the consequences. I eat my weight in salads and I’m not even a fan of most dressings, as I think they tend to drown the freshness out of the produce as it is. I love avocados and find them to be nature’s dressing. They are creamy and never ruin a salad like a fake creamy dressing can. I have those days though where I am in a snacking mood or just running short on time, so I pick the brands I trust carefully. I look for meal replacement or snack products that are not full of fake sweeteners or loaded with sodium. Finding real ingredients is “my thing”, so let’s see how the Slim Fast VoxBox did.

The Slim Fast VoxBox included:

• SlimFast® Advanced Ready to Drink Shake in Vanilla flavor
• SlimFast® Advanced Nutrition 100 Calorie Snacks in Sour Cream & Onion Baked Crisps flavor
• SlimFast® Advanced Nutrition Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Meal Replacement Bars
• SlimFast® Advanced Nutrition 100 Calorie Snacks Drizzled Crisps in Cinnamon Bun Swirl flavor

 

First, I tried the items that were easy to munch on and that was the Sour Cream and Onion Baked Crisps to satisfy the salty urges and for the sweet cravings, I tried the Drizzled Crisps in Cinnamon Bun Swirl. First thing I noticed with both bagged products, was the large amount of “dustings” in the bag. I call that the powdery and broken up bits in a bag that barely resemble the whole product you see pictured in the front of the bag. Like the posters for drive-thru burgers, my product did not resemble the picture on the bag. The Sour Cream and Onion crisps had the higher amount of “dustings” that I wondered if I should just use the contents as a batter coating! I taste a pinch-full of what these crisps use to be and the flavor and texture resemble closely to those chips that come in a canister….but more broken up. The odd part was when you ate the product, it tasted good enough to satisfy a chip craving but when you drank water, you had an odd aftertaste that lingered. The taste was not like potato or the sour cream and onion coating, think more milk solids or dry milk and it was what it tasted closely too. Each bag is 100 calories and states it comes with 18 to 20 crisps. I am not kidding when if I say I got 4 whole ones and that is counting the ones that were 3/4 whole. The breakage takes away from the enjoyment and if you get past that, the aftertaste did me in. I did not finish the bag but I figured that means I consumed less calories!

 

Next, came the Cinnamon Bun Swirl crisps. These were a little more in one piece but the drizzle on top was mostly on the bottom of the bag. The sweetness is not overwhelming and the cinnamon had a nice balance to it. Again, the odd aftertaste was present but you could overlook this one more. The crisps had a pleasant crunch and like some products on the market, these did not leave you with a cotton mouth after you ate them. I could actually see myself picking up a bag if a sweet craving hits me that is overwhelming because a bag is just 100 calories for 20 to 22 crisps. These were also 30% whole in the bag!

 

SlimFast’s Ready to drink shake that comes in an easy to go bottle. The bottle idea I like because sometimes messing with powder and a scoop can be a pain, but I usually take a bottle water (or almond milk) and just scoop into a shaker bottle when I am on the go. I then combine the ingredients (wet/dry) when I am ready to consume them, so this way I don’t end up with chocolate powder that found it’s way out of a plastic baggy and went poof in my purse! I made sure to try the drink cold from the fridge and upon opening the bottle, the Vanilla scent is not very Vanilla like. I take a sip and the drink is about 4 out of ten when it comes to overall taste and flavor. I have had much better and this drink had an odd thickness to it. I made sure to shake it just in case and the thickness left a film in my mouth that was not very vanilla or real milk tasting, or even a nut milk flavor! It took away from the enjoyment and even with time, I could not get use to it. Being able to get 20 grams of protein on the go is a plus, but when I priced it out, weighed in the flavor/texture and the ingredients, I would still opt for a premium powder mix that is usually higher in protein. I did fix the flavor by adding part of a scoop of powdered Peanut Butter and Chocolate, and that is when I noticed that my PB and Chocolate powder had a better quality of chocolate and real flavor than what the Slim Fast drink.  I then felt I wasted a scoop of the “good stuff” on trying to make the not so good stuff better! I also noticed there is natural and artificial flavors but no where but the title of the drink says Vanilla.  It’s called Vanilla Creme but nowhere is Vanilla listed! I then stopped looking at the ingredients because they made my tummy rumble more.  😦

 

Last but not least, the bar in Dark Chocolate and Sea salt. This is a meal replacement bar and has 10 grams of protein and 200 calories.  Ninety of those calories come from fat and the protein derives from Soy, not Whey. I look at the list and there are so many other bars on the market with better core ingredients and even protein impact, and with less fat! This bar is super sweet and off in taste, plus costs more than the better bars. The Dark Chocolate has a waxy texture and is of poor quality. I did not go past the one bite because my calories and fat matters. The bar is filled with syrups derived from everything from brown rice, tapioca and simple cane. They added Inulin as a source of fiber, plus Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil to hold it all together. Let me add the above comes before the Cocoa itself and Oats was still listed before the chocolate! They might as well called the flavored Sweet Oats-y. The only positive is that it has Almonds as a first ingredients but I felt they were ruined by the rest!

 

Final Verdict:

I love the VoxBoxes and Influenster!  I am not so in love with Slim Fast.  I think back and they are a company that his been around a long time but I feel they are always playing catch up and still stuck in the motto of “portion control baggies”.  Most people that are serious about losing weight and/or managing their weight, can portion out an individual serving.  They sell containers to baggies to help you out that serve as a carrying vessel and probably keep the products in more decent shape.  You can use a scale or like I do, I still use a scale but I test myself first to see if I can visually guess-estimate on my own and then verify with the scale.  I notice I usually serve myself a little under the 1 serving a packaging lists.  I can do math, so I don’t need someone doing it for me.  Next, the ingredients used are “old school” but not in a good way.  Cheap sugars, bad oils, artificial flavors and dyes, and poor protein sources is not what I call healthy eating.  Yes, you get less calories but that is barely the entire picture when eating well.  You need good fats, a good source of protein and more to stay energized.  Yes, the Slim Fast products come with vitamins and minerals but again a multi-vitamin can do that for you if that is what you desire!  I looked at the products as a whole and asked myself is this a balanced diet?  Slim Fast does not state just eat our food solely but the 1 meal or 2 real meals you add in a day should not make-up for everything you did not get.  I want energy and I’m not even asking for a boost of it from products, just keep me going in the day.  If I started with a shake, ate a bar for lunch (maybe 1 or 2 crisp snacks) and then ate dinner…..well, when my body is suppose to be winding down is when my body got the better fuel.  Yeah, that did not sit well with me!  Then I saw the price points because convenience comes at a price and Slim Fast was more expensive than the “golden dietary products” on the market.  Um, I’m paying more to eat less better is what entered my head.  Yeah, I prefer paying the bills Santa brought and managing my weight with other products than paying for products that are sub-par both in how they were made and how they came out of a bag!

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Slim Fast and Influenster.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

 

Premier Protein Bars: Yogurt Peanut Crunch #Review #PremierSelfie

Most protein bars that are geared towards females have great flavors but low protein numbers. I want energy just like everyone else and if I want less, I prefer just eating half a bar and holding the other half for later.

Retail Price Point: $1.99 per bar with 30 grams of protein

Ingredients (as listed on their website)-
Premier Protein® Bar Protein Blend (Soy Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Hydrolysate, Whey Protein Concentrate), Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Gelatin, Sugar, Partially Defatted Peanut Flour, Water, Peanut Butter (Dry Roasted Peanuts), Palm Kernel Oil, Inulin, Contains 2% or less of the following: Tapioca Starch, Natural & Artificial Flavors, Salt, Yogurt Powder, Soy Lecithin (an emulsifier), Nonfat Dry Milk, Peanut Extract, Caramel Color, Sucralose.

Verdict:
As I mentioned, flavor matters and the Premier Protein bars come in an array of flavors from White Fudge Raspberry to the Yogurt Peanut Crunch I was sent to try out. Each bar provides 30 grams of protein and are decent in size, so you nip that craving or hunger when it hits. The bar is gluten free and no funny stuff like fillers or trans fats, corn syrup, plus they are a great source of not just protein but fiber too. Each bar is 290 calories, so again a pretty decent exchange when it comes to the what makes the bar.

The flavor of the yogurt coating resembles white chocolate and it’s almost described like eating a peanut butter rice crisp treat that has been dipped in it. Very different and no nasty aftertaste, plus I did get enough energy to finish grocery shopping and my groceries resembled the list I went out to get. Many times my cravings tend to influence what I am buying and I then come home with more snack foods than I planned too. So, I not only save my waistline but also when it comes to my checkbook!

Connect with Premier Protein and check-out their products at:

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• #PremierSelfie #Influenster #FiestaVoxBox

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Premier Protein via Influenster.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

 

 

SlimQuick Pure: Extra Strength Mixed Berries Drink Mix Review #SlimQuickPure

 

Not all caffeine is created equal and that means some sources will cause more tremors, jitters and some even perform better than others. I try to always keep the source of my caffeine as natural as possible and also simple. I just want to boost my metabolism a little and get that much needed energy that gives me enough “umph” to make it through the day.

SlimQuick Pure covers the six reasons a female may be experiencing difficulties when it comes to weight loss:

1. Increasing your Metabolism
2. Reduction of Appetite
3. Energy boost
4. Reduce Excess Water
5. Hormones Support
6. Stress Reduction

The mix is simple and even contains antioxidants and a SlimQuick’s patent mix named BioPure Green Tea™. The company also has support when it comes to diet plans and even a 25 pound weight loss challenge in as little as 13 weeks. With community support and being able to get advice and seek out information, I feel it’s more than just picking up an OTC product and “winging it”. It’s a drink with a program and with people that are sharing the same experiences and goals, such as weight loss and improving overall health.

Ingredients:
Rest assured Slimquick Pure Drink Mix contains natural ingredients like Antioxidants, Calcium, Vitamin D and Exclusive BioPure Green Tea™.

Other Ingredients: Maltodextrin, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid, Cane Juice Crystals, Malic Acid, Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose, Silicon Dioxide, Red 40, and Blue 1.

Retail Price Point: $13.48 vi Amazon, $19.99 at Walgreen’s and Target had the product at $14.19.  The product also reflects a 100% Money-Back Guarantee on the packaging.

Verdict:
Most mixes that are great for you are not always great to the taste buds but this drink was pleasant in flavor. Increasing your water intake not only helps with keeping you full and hydrated, but it’s just a good habit to get into. I felt the berry flavor also made the drinking of water a change from the plain. Now, when it comes to energy, the product does deliver and I felt more motivated to do the things I am suppose to do on an everyday basis, plus not get out of working-out. SlimQuick Pure’s Drink mix is that little helper and you can adjust your intake by your needs. I started off slow and did half a packet to see how I felt. The package states to not exceed more than 4 servings in a day and starts you off with one in the morning and then 1 packet in the afternoon. You increase on day two, in taking 2 packets in AM and 1 in the afternoon. Day 3, you do 2 in the morning and 2 in afternoon and stay at this intake level. I felt for the small amount of weight loss I wanted, I did not need that amount of intake and with the product’s box yielding 26 packets, that can make for one expensive dietary supplement. The one thing that sticks is that it works. It worked for me doing 1 packet in the morning and 1 packet in the evening and I curbed my intake by my activity level. No reason to get an energy boost I was going to do nothing with and that usually in my experience results in jitters. I do like that I can customize SlimQuick Pure’s drink mix and as long as you stay within the guidelines, you may see the results you are looking for like I did. 5 pounds on week 1 and I took less in week two and lost 3 pounds. So, far that means this mix works perfectly for me.

Connect with SlimQuick Pure at:

• On-line
• Coupon (Expires August 31st)
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• #SlimQuickPure

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from SlimQuick Pure.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

 

 

The 14 Day Skinny Teatox System Review #SkinnyTeaTox

I love tea as it is, so doing this review came easy for me. Two weeks to a skinnier me and also a detox, I’m game!

The 14-Day system is very easy to adhere to. You make a cup in the morning from the loose tea and the Skinny TeaTox team included a strawberry shaped tea infuser to use. It is made of silicone and it’s the first of this type I have used, as all mine are metal base. The infuser was so easy to clean and dry that I became a huge fan of silicone infusers and can’t wait to get my hands on that adorable Manatea (get it!) one!

 

The A.M. tea steeps for about 4 minutes and I found it a little on the weak side in taste, so I let it steep longer. On warmer days, it was about 20 minutes and I would then walk by and toss 2 ice cubes in for a cold refreshment. Easy to make and the A.M. tea has very light notes that I would describe more towards an herbal like flavor versus the stronger notes you get from black and green teas. I started my morning hydrated and the effect I felt was mostly in energy. It was a welcoming effect because it did not just hit me, but it was the type of energy you don’t notice but I did notice I kept going. It gave me that extra edge and no jitters or negative effects like with energy drinks. I mostly had the tea with zero types of sweeteners but I did have a couple cups with a smidge of honey but to give you an idea of how light the tea tasted, I felt even a 1/4 teaspoon of honey made the tea taste like honey water versus tea, so I skipped on doing this.

Retail Price Point: 14-Day system is currently on sale for $32.00 on the site, from $42.00.  The tea infusers are separate and each sells for $11.00.

The evening tea comes in bags and is a much stronger tasting tea. Senna leaf is what I mostly picked up and it is known to be used as a laxative. Now, the tea did zero for me when it came to whatever it was suppose to do. I never feel hungry in the evening, so it maybe helps someone if they have issues with that. I had the tea hot and you drink the P.M. version every other day, not once a day like the A.M. one. Senna leaf is known to be used for constipation, to help move digestion and so forth. I would get a lot of stomach noises and sometimes the activity was loud when it came to noise but never did I feel like I had to rush to the bathroom or an unpleasant…..well, gurgle.  I expected to use the restroom more, but just got a lot of noises and squeals like you would experience with hunger and it got a little annoying.  Anyone around me would ask me if I was hungry or if I was okay.  That is how loud the noises were.

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Verdict:

All in all the system is super easy to follow and remember. One evening my Husband reminded me of my P.M. tea and I had to let him know it’s every other day and why….so he quickly kept tabs in case I would forget. He is always kind enough to offer to make me a hot cup of tea every night, so this why he kept tabs and would know what tea to offer me. The system’s main goal is detoxification that causes weight loss, via good energy and just helping the system to move along at doing what is suppose to do. See it as a cheerleader! I did however not lose a pound. I watch what I eat as it is but I only experienced an interruption in how I regularly use the restroom. When I took the evening version of the Skinny TeaTox, the following day I would not go like I go on my regular schedule (once after breakfast and once after dinner).  I had no need to go in the morning, so I felt uncomfortable and bloated (now, the noises make sense). I would then go two to three times that evening. It disrupted my healthy going pattern and a detox (if needed and remember healthy organs already do this for us) was not what I felt and saw. My skin does not look good. I thought maybe the purge is happening to my skin and it will look bad and then better. Thinking it’s part of the detox phase. Nope! My face recovered when the program ended and it took me about a week after to start seeing the effects and I had to push more water than before I started the program. In conclusion, my normal regimen of teas and water, plus a healthy diet is what keeps me losing weight and feeling better. My body says so by responding as it should and keeping even a healthier bathroom schedule. I think where you are when it comes to dieting, is how well any program, including the Skinny TeaTox will respond with you. If you eat bad then you may have things you wish to purge from your system but in the end, purging yourself of eating badly on a regular basis is what will make the real change. I maybe see Skinny TeaTox as a jump start program.  The program also details a healthy eating system and what foods you should eat and what to avoid.  This is where I praise the system highly because if you are lost or need a re-freshening course, the Skinny TeaTox provides information in a pamphlet they included and also on their site.  I can also see using the A.M. tea combined with any morning tea, as a natural energy booster shot!

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• #SkinnyTeaTox

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Skinny TeaTox.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Beldt Labs, Inc. PULSS Premium Nitric Oxide Load

Part 2 of Hubby’s Experience with Beldt Labs, Inc.’s offerings is below, this time with a “pre-workout” supplement, PULSS. Seems like we have another winner on our hands. Take it away, Hubby:

 

So, last time we talked about a supplement that is generally taken post-workout. This time we cover a supplement that is generally taken prior to your workout, and PULSS has plenty of a version of this supplement, arginine.

Used for bigger “pumps”, or the enhanced muscular definition and vascularity one sees after an intense workout, the jury is still out as to whether there are proven benefits from this particular supplement. I, for one, have been using it for better circulation, and a little extra “oomph” during my workouts. What I wasn’t expecting was the increased vascularity and definition I got. Even the wife noticed the difference, which was marked. Containing primarily A-AKG (Arginine-alphaketoglutarate), and a token amount of ornithine and glutamine for good measure, I substituted this for my regular L-Arginine supplement I use to boost my regular pre-workout drink. No adverse effects, so stomach upset, no jitters.

Made in the USA in a GMP-certified facility, backed with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, the only thing really stopping me from saying “Buy it. Buy it now”, again, is the price. You can supplement your pre-workout routine for considerably less than the almost $26 price tag for a 30-day supply. So your mileage may vary with results and value, but the Money-Back Guarantee means the most you’ll be out is return shipping if it doesn’t work for you.

 

Okay, 2 for 2 with Beldt Labs. Maybe we’ll consider some other supplements in the future, but I think we’ll probably end on a high note here. Many thanks to Bedlt Labs, Inc. for the opportunity.

Connect with Beldt Labs, Inc. :

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I received the above product(s) free of charge from Beldt Labs, Inc..  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Beldt Labs, Inc. Crusch Tri-Phase Creatine Tablets

Hubby takes the reigns again as our resident supplement guinea pi…er, I mean, expert, and reviews a couple of new supplements this time, from the kind folks at Beldt Labs, Inc., starting with their tri-phase creatine supplement, CRUSCH. Take it away, hubster!

 

I’m happy to report this time that it seems, on the surface, that a supplement company is actually putting decent, quality ingredients out there, that contain what they claim to contain and work the way they’re supposed to work. Sounds simple but you can read here easily that there’s a LOT of supplement companies that aren’t worth the time, money and potential liver damage to “test” their products. Beldt isn’t one of those. And while they are smaller that the big boys at GNC, they seem to have the product nailed down, aside from a few claims that amount to little more than wishful thinking on their Amazon page, but that is par for the course with any supplement.

CRUSCH contains three forms of one of the most researched and proven workout supplements on the market today, creatine. Initially identified way back in the 1800’s, it has been successfully used for over 2 decades to increase muscle mass, density, power, intensity and strength. CRUSCH contains the standard creatine monhydrate, the most readily commercially available form of creatine, creatine HCL (hydrocloride), a more exotic and expensive form of creatine, and an exotic type of creatine, creatine pyruvate. I have extensive experience with the first two forms, and this is my initial experience with the last. I will say that I saw no drop off in muscle mass, definition or overall strength when switching from my usual CreaPure Creatine from O.N. to this. There is no loading phase listed in the instructions, which is fine because most research will tell you a loading phase is mostly unnecessary. What is does recommend is “cycling”, which means a defined time using the product, and a set time not. Most reliable fitness experts will tell you that with normal creatine monohydrate, there is no need for “cycling” on and off the product, so I’ll leave that portion up to you.

My only problem with this product isn’t with the product so much as the price. 90 capsules (which equals 30 days of product) is $25. You can get regular creatine monohydrate from almost every major supplement company for between $8, and up to $20, for a 90 day supply. Considering that there’s practically no research that the more exotic forms of creatine are any better, results-wise, than plain old monohydrate, I’m at a loss to explain why anyone should pay so much more.

As I stated, the product is fine. It delivers what it claims to deliver, albeit in a massive pill that I recommend taking one at a time. I saw absolutely no drop off in my stats, strength or stamina. But I didn’t see any gains that would make me want to pay more for this than my regular brand. What it has going for it is ease of use (no powder to measure, weigh, and mix), no flavor added to your pre- or post-workout drinks (I don’t care what anyone says, “unflavored” has a flavor, and it’s not good), and is easy to take with you wherever you go. It’s made in the USA and has the 30 -day, money back guarantee (just return the unused portion at your expense). It’s up to you if that is worth the extra cost for the ingredients. But other than that, I liked this product.

 

Nice that Hubby get’s a good one after so many iffy ones before.

Connect with Beldt Labs, Inc. :

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I received the above product(s) free of charge from Beldt Labs, Inc..  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Weight Gurus Digital Bathroom Scale with Smartphone App Tracking

The key to eating healthy, and being healthy, is to keep track of your weight. While it’s not a be-all, end-all of health measurements, it does tend to give you a pretty good baseline to start from. So a good scale is essential to keeping yourself healthy. And while this Weightless Series Weight Gurus scale looks sharp, and can kind of help you track your weight with their app, it falls seriously short in the one metric absolutely essential to any scale, regardless of features, bells, or whistles: It is seriously inaccurate. 5-10lb swings are not uncommon, and a quick glance at reviews show that I’m not alone here.

We first thought it was the floor int he bathroom. So we tried the tile in the kitchen, and then the entryway. Every time there was a different weight for both hubby and I. That is not only startling, but frustrating. And because it is digital, there is no manual adjustment like the old analog spring versions of our youth. So, it may not get high marks from me, but I will highlight what I did like.

It looks very snazzy, and it’s tempered glass surface means it’s a breeze to keep clean, has touch screen controls and a large, easy to read backlit LCD screen. It is powered by 4 AAA batteries. It has an auto-on feature and multiple profile settings that it uses to auto-detect who is using the scale by weight, for up to 8 users. It also has a “weightless” mode that will tell you simply how much you have lost or gained, but I wouldn’t use that and don’t really recommend it with the constant inaccuracies displayed by this unit. And, as always, high praise for retailers like Greater Goods/Weight Gurus that include batteries, because having to hunt them down to get to use new stuff is no kind of fun at all.

Lastly, I must touch on the app. While not essential to using this scale, it is listed as a “value added” feature, and on it’s surface seems to be useful. It is supposed to work by scanning a QR code the scale displays and helping you track your weight. I say it’s supposed to because the phone doesn’t always want to scan the code. So it becomes easier to just manually enter it. It doesn’t sync with any of the popular fitness or health tracking apps either, so it becomes somewhat redundant. It’s also pretty slow, but that may be my device, since my phone isn’t by any stretch a top of line device.

Overall I don’t see the value here, and while it may have been a bad batch of scales that went out, the problems I’ve highlighted don’t seem unique to me at all. I wanted to like this product, but it falls way short in the most important feature one needs from a scale. Sorry, Weight Gurus. This one isn’t quite ready for Prime Time yet.

Connect with Greater Goods/Weight Gurus:

• On the web
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I received the above product(s) free of charge from Greater Goods/Weight Gurus.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

CortiSlim® Burn™: #CortiSLIM Burn Supplement Review

CortiSlim was a product I was familiar with in the past and it was not because I have taken it, but the huge amount of advertisement that was launched to promote the brand. Years later the product left the market and it has returned, with new ingredients and changes.

One of the new ingredients is the adding of Raspberry Ketones and the proprietary blend called Bioactive Burn Matrix.

Ingredients (as listed on bottle):

• Active Ingredients: Vitamin C, Chromium, Bioactive Burn Matrix: Green Tea Extract, Razberi-K, Caffeine Anhydrous, Caffeine (sustained release) and Guarana Seed.

• Other Ingredients: Microcrystalline cellulose, Gelatin, Silica, magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Blue #1

 

Indications (as I took the supplement): You take 2 capsules in the AM and 2 more in the PM.  No more than 4 capsules a day!

Directions (on bottle): 

• For Fitness Enhancement:  Adults take 2 capsules per day 1 hour before exercising with a meal and a full glass of water.

• For Maximum Fitness Enhancement:  Adults take 2 capsules per day with breakfast and a full glass of water, and 2 capsules with lunch and a full glass of water.  Do not exceed 4 capsules in a 24 hour period.  If you are taking CortiSlim® Burn™ while taking another CortiSlim® product, do not exceed 2 CortiSlim® Burn™ capsules in a 24 hour period.

Retail Price Point: $25.99 for one bottle via Amazon or you can invest in 3 bottles for $59.90.  Each bottle has 72 capsules.

Verdict:
I took the product as instructed and took out my 1/2 caffeine pill I take in the morning, as I did not want to be over caffeinated. In week one, I noticed on the first day that my jitters were not present, as I sometimes can get “the shakes” with just the smallest intake of caffeine. I blame the albuterol for my asthma causing this with the caffeine. That was just not there, so that I did appreciate. Week Two, I continue to take the 2 pills in the AM and 2 pills at night. I’m still feeling energized like when I took my 1/2 caffeine pill but no more, nor more less. It’s sort of like the exact amount of “umph” I felt before taking CortiSlim. I was only taking 200 mg divided in half (100), so it’s not like I have a high tolerance and/or base use that would make the CortiSlim negligent. I continue watching what I eat and because I gear what I eat by what my activity will be that day, I consume around 1200 calories. I weigh myself and I can celebrate that I have not gained weight but have not lost any. I’m the exact same weight. The caffeine in CortiSlim is derived from Green Tea Extract Leaf, Caffeine Anhydrous, Caffeine (sustained release) and Guarana Seed Standardized Extract. I am getting more caffeine going by the amounts and intake, but I don’t feel it, see it, or even reap the benefits in caloric loss. I did notice no milligrams are listed on the exact caffeine amount from each ingredient, so maybe I’m taking less (who knows!).  I can see making the leap that the product is “maintaining” my weight. That is the other positive I can maybe find. I just wanted to lose 10 pounds and was hoping to accelerate the loss. I did see that CortSlim makes an “Advanced Formula” and for once I may ask the manufacture to send this out before I make a final verdict on the brand. Right now, it’s a great mix of caffeine for energy because I was steady as can be but that also comes at a price point. I will assume I plateaued when it comes to weight loss and will see if a stronger formula will give me the kick (offing of the 10 pounds that linger) I seek!

Connect with CortiSLIM to checkout the BURN formula and their revamped product line at:

• On-line
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• #CortiSlim

I received the above product(s) free of charge from CortiSlim.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Zenwise Labs Advanced Green Tea Extract + Vitamin C #Review #ZenwiseLabs

Sometimes, we can really don’t eat the way we should, sometimes we fudge a little on our diets. Some times we’re dragging a little a need a little pick me up. So what’s a person to do? Enter Zenwise Labs Advanced Green Tea Extract (W/ Vitamin C). I’ve reviewed a Zenwise product before, and was impressed with the quality and how the makers stand behind their products 100%. So I was really looking forward to getting to try their latest offering. I wasn’t disappointed. And while the bottle promoted quite a few impressive health benefits of their green tea extract capsules, I chose to focus on the immediate benefits green tea can provide.

This 120ct bottle delivers 725mg of their proprietary green tea extract mix, which includes decaffeinated green tea extract, Vitamin C and EGCG. I used to split a 200mg caffeine pill as part of my daily supplements routine, so I was a little concerned about this having 750mg. Not to worry, my heart didn’t explode. And I had sufficient energy to do my daily tasks, without jitters or heart flutters, and without being so wired I couldn’t sleep at night. It’s not one of hubby’s giant horse pills either, so I don’t have to choke them down. And there’s no wheat, soy, egg, milk, or shellfish. It’s gluten free, and made in the USA from natural ingredients, made in GMP and FDA certified labs, and uses vegetarian capsules. At $22.95 for essentially a 4 month supply, this feels like an excellent value to boot.

If I had a nitpick on this product it would be the inclusion of the EGCG. Some studies have shown EGCG to be a carcinogen, but there’s not enough peer-reviewed studies definitively labeling it a carcinogen, but I’d want to know, so I’m sharing with you. I like Zenwise Labs. I like their products, I like their customer service. I like not having to pop caffeine pills, and take something natural instead. I like the antioxidant boost, too. I like not having to know where the bathroom is because I’ve been chugging coffee by the gallon to stay awake. I wholeheartedly recommend these, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have tried them. I hope you try them too.

Connect with Zenwise labs on:

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• Buy on Amazon

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Greenwise Products, Inc.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.