Pea of Sweetness

Two New Series! Healthy Eating Challenge and Wellness Wednesdays (A Link Up!)

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The results are in! I love the input I received for the Healthy Eating Challenge, and I will be kicking it off next week! Based on the answers I received I decided there will be a new challenge every 2 weeks. I am ready to go back to eating better, and I’m really excited to have people join me or even just follow along!
I will start the challenge next week, but in the meantime, I have created a Healthy Eating Challenge Support Group on Facebook, and I hope you’ll join us!
Healthy Eating Challenge

How the Healthy Eating Challenge Will Work

For the Healthy Eating Challenge the ultimate goal is to clean up how we eat by eliminating common “unhealthy” ingredients in the foods we eat like additives, preservatives, and other artificial ingredients until we are eating a healthy diet of natural, whole foods. We’re going to take it step-by-step by eliminating one culprit at a time.
What is our goal? Well, that’s up to you! People participating in the healthy eating challenge may have better goals, but it will be ideal for a variety of goals, and we can still offer support along the way. You may be looking to lose weight, improve your overall health, have more energy, etc., we’ll support each other along the way!
Following the Healthy Eating Challenge, after we’ve eliminated all the “bad stuff,” I’m going to continue into another challenge for going gluten-free! You don’t have to participate in the gluten-free challenge, and you can feel free to pick and choose which challenges from the Healthy Eating Challenge you’d like to implement. Of course, I’d like to encourage you to do all, but I’m offering a no pressure, supportive environment.
So feel free to join us on Facebook and stay tuned for the first challenge next week!
 

Wellness Wednesday Linky

Wellness Wednesday
Starting next Wednesday, I will introduce the Wellness Wednesday Link Up! I will share a new health and/or fitness related post including my progress toward my own health goals. I originally was going to call it “Weigh In Wednesday,” but I didn’t want it to sound too literal. There will be a link up where you can link up any health and/or fitness related post! I didn’t want people to feel like it had to be weight related, though I may be sharing my own progress as I have a goal to lose weight.
Each week I will choose a few posts from the previous week to highlight and will be welcoming any interested Co-Hosts as well. The picture above will have a code available so you can add it to your post and let others know about the Wellness Wednesdays Link Ups, but there will be no requirements.
Lots of fun stuff, right? I hope you’ll be joining, and if you write about health and/or fitness, I hope you will join us for the link up as well!
 

Balance Bar Summer Shape Up

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I don’t know about you, but when Summer finally arrives, I am ready for some times outdoors! I am in an overall better mood, and I find I exercise more as well because I’m just feeling better! When I’m on the go, though, I’m also more prone to snacking or turning to convenience foods. That’s why I love that Balance Bar offers their bare bars, which are a perfect, healthy snack on the go!
At the end of May I shared the Balance Project, and a majority of those who commented (it actually might be all) said they don’t feel balanced. Now that summer is here, things may be looking up, and Balance Bar is heading the way to help us feel more balanced along with the help of Gabby Reece.
According to a recent survey by Balance Bar, 43% of Americans feel most balanced during the summer! Summer is the perfect time to get outside, enjoy the beautiful weather and start feeling more balanced.
Balance Bar Summer Shape Up
Disclosure: I received complimentary products in exchange for this post and promotion. Regardless, all opinions are my own.
Here are some of Gabby Reece’s tips for smart eating and staying active that help her feel more balanced. Give them a try and make your way toward feeling balanced!

  • Make it your own: There is not one right way to get it done. There is the right way that works for you. When it comes to eating healthy, find the foods you like and implement those into your daily diet. The same goes for exercise. If you hate the gym then find something outside that is manageable for you. This is not about torture; this is about creating a lifestyle that you can do week after week.
  • Watch the calendar: Use summer for motivation to shape up but don’t wait for June 21st. If you wait until summer actually starts, you’ll feel rushed and end up crash dieting or doing a crazy workout schedule. I personally like to keep a calendar in my kitchen and cross off the days as I countdown to bikini weather. The visual reminder – right where you eat – is helpful in keeping you on track.
  • Sign up a friend: We tend to be more successful at accomplishing some type of exercise if we have an accountability partner. Solicit a friend and maybe use this as your time to connect. You can train for a 5k together or join an outdoor boot camp; there are a lot more options now that the weather is improving.
  • Plan to snack: Take snacks (like fruit, nuts or a Balance Bar®) wherever you go to prevent mindless eating. If I have an afternoon or early evening workout planned, I make sure to have one of these handy an hour or so before so that I have plenty of energy to get in a good workout.
  • Variety is key: Make as many meals as you can at home so you can control your nutrition. These are some of my favorite recipes – fresh and full of veggies for springtime! To keep things interesting and fresh at my house, I try to rotate foods. One night I may go for something heavier with veggies and grains, and then the next night focus on proteins. I really try to change up the food and create a great deal of variety.
  • Each day is a new chance and it’s never too late: If you fall out of your summer shape up routine one day, don’t sweat it. Forgive yourself and move on – and just keep moving!

Great tips, right? I know I’m getting closer to feeling balanced and can’t wait to try her tips as well!
To see some of Gabby’s favorite fitness moves, go to http://bit.ly/1HL3eO8 and for more of Gabby’s tips for balancing fitness and a busy schedule go to http://bit.ly/1Qj0pYC.
Be sure to connect with Balance Bar on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
 

Fitness Around the World

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Affiliate

How We Stay Fit All Around The World with Little Passports
January is the time of year when people all over the world make resolutions, and that’s exactly what Sofia and Sam of Little Passports are doing! This year they are promising to be more active. Join us as we travel the world discovering new sports and activities that will make you want to move around every day.
Australia 
The majority of Australia’s population lives near the coast, so guess what sport is popular in this country? Surfing! Australia’s surfing culture is inspired by the surrounding waters. They enjoy the Southern Ocean in the South, the Indian Ocean in the West, the Pacific Ocean in the East, as well as the Timor, Tasman, Coral and other seas. Australian children learn early on how to respect the water and look for any dangers. Their beautiful beaches and big waves are a surfer’s paradise!

China
All you need is a net, a table, a small white ball, and two paddles to try one of China’s favorite sports: ping-pong (also called table tennis). China has one of the highest ranked players in the world and won many gold medals in table tennis at the 2012 London Olympics. Nearly 300 million people play this fun sport in China – that’s almost as many people as the entire US population! The game is fast, competitive, and takes lots of coordination. You can start out playing on your kitchen table (but please ask your mom or dad first).

Brazil 
Brazilians go nuts for one sport in particular: football. Sam and Sofia have told you a little bit about this before. We even have a football game on our website! If you remember, this isn’t the kind of football that requires helmets and pads. All you really need to play is your foot and a ball. Sound familiar to you? You bet it does! We call it “soccer” in the United States. Brazil’s national football team is the most successful in the world, and they are scheduled to host the 2014 World Cup, football’s biggest tournament. Wouldn’t it be fun to visit Brazil during the World Cup?

India
Have you ever heard of cricket? No, not the loud bug! We’re talking about India’s favorite sport. Cricket was brought to India by the British, and it is still very popular in both countries. Cricket is a bat-and-ball game that requires players to bat, score runs, hit sticks called “wickets,” and get the opposing player out. The teams take turns called “innings,” but cricket games have been known to go on for days! Children in India love to play cricket on the street, the park, the beach, or the school playground.

Canada
Ice hockey is the national sport of Canada. As its name implies, it’s a sport that’s played on ice. The game involves two teams of six active players each, who use a hockey stick to shoot a puck across the ice while trying to score a goal. The puck is similar to a ball but is flat on the bottom to help it smoothly glide across the ice. Every player has to have balance, coordination, and know how to ice skate very well. Although it is most popular in colder climates like Canada, ice hockey is now played all over the world. It is played here in the United States from Los Angeles to Chicago, and even in sunny Florida! Do you have an ice hockey team in your town? Or perhaps an ice skating rink nearby where YOU can learn to skate?

Sam and Sofia are ready to try all of these new sports! Which one would you like to try? Bring Little Passports into your child’s life in 2014 to teach them about all of the fascinating cultures around the world!
Little Passports

Lose 12 Inches workout program Promotion!

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lose 12 inches
Are you stuck in a workout rut? It’s not uncommon a few months into the year to fall into a rut. Or maybe you gave up on your routine already. You probably need a new routine. Or you may have been working out wrong and need something totally different! Lose 12 Inches is a 28-day at home workout program by Cowboy Ryan Ehmann “AS SEEN ON ABC SHARK TANK.” I know I’m ready for something new, so join me and take advantage of this awesome promotion! Take advantage of this special offer through US Family Guide to save 25% Off $9.95 CD Or $10.00 off $59.99 program! I will be doing the whole program and would love to have you “join” me! I am in need of something new and could definitely stand to lose a few inches after a couple of medications started affecting my weight! I will be sharing my review of the program as well! This deal expires 5/31/2014, so take advantage of it while you still can!
More from Cowboy Ryan Ehmann:
I’m Cowboy Ryan Ehmann “AS SEEN ON ABC SHARK TANK” and I can’t wait to share this program with you. Are you “TIRED OF WORKING OUT WITH MINIMUM RESULTS? CAN’T GET RID OF BELLY FAT? For only $9.95 LEARN THE Cowboy Fit Zone SECRET at LOSE12INCHES.com. IT’S SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN AND SWEEPING THE NATION BECAUSE IT WORKS. YOU WILL DISCOVER that YOU’VE BEEN WORKING OUT WRONG YOUR ENTIRE LIFE. My client, Daymond John, Founder of FUBU and Reality TV Star of ABC Shark Tank is doing the Cowboy Fit Zone training so why not join him. You will learn the scientific reason why you are not losing fat with any other workout. Come on, let’s get started today. Wooo Hoooo … That’s What I’m Talking About! VISIT: www.Lose12inches.com
And don’t forget to grab the promo code to save! I’m excited to start something new and share it with you! And I always love to share special deals like this! I’m really looking forward to trying Lose 12 Inches! I hope you’ll join me!
lose 12 inches
Disclosure: I was provided a free sample of this product to review. Regardless, I only recommend products I use myself and feel would benefit my readers. I am under no obligation to post a positive review.