Disclosure: I’m a sponsored Meta Influencer, but all opinions are my own. Please see below for additional disclosure.

I know that I should be drinking 8 glasses (or more) of water a day.

There are several health benefits of drinking more water…hydration, easier digestion, more full, lose weight, etc.

My problem? Plain water is “bleh” to me.

So, over the last few months, I’ve been “adding” things to my water – things like flavored drops, “SPARKY” supplements, fruit-infusion, etc. And then this month, I decided to take it to the next level.

How To Make Drinking Water Even More Healthy

I’m now adding Metamucil or Meta Appetite Control to my water too.

(You may remember that last month I gave you The Secret Ingredient To The Perfect Smoothie and I am still adding Meta Appetite Control to my smoothies every morning.)

Gang, I’m seriously in LURVE with Metamucil products!!

(And yes, I realize that makes me sound super old, but hear me out.)

Incorporating Metamucil or Meta Appetite Control into my diet has REALLY helped me restore regularity and crush cravings* so I feel less hungry in-between meals*.

That means I snack less. And snacking less makes my pants fit better. And better fitting pants makes me happy – especially with swimsuit season around the corner.

If you are worried about Metamucil being too “gritty” or “thick”, I understand. I don’t like that either.

That’s why I mix two teaspoons with my 16 oz of flavored water and crushed ice. And while my beverage is a little more thick (due to the 100% natural psyllium, a soluble fiber), it is still very drinkable. Plus, since Meta Appetite Control comes in either pink lemonade, orange zest, or unflavored…it’s easy to make the right mocktail.

(And sometimes having a mocktail is all a momma needs…if fact, you need to check out the Meta Website because they have a TON of mocktail recipes under Tips & Articles.)

And it’s an EASY add-on. There is no juicing or freezing or blender time. Two teaspoons, water, and swirl of the spoon. And BOOM, you are done. And snack cravings…well, they are gone.

(PS: This quiz tells you what kind of snacker you are … it’s hilarious. I was an all-or-nothing nosher. Yep, my snacking is the same as the rest of my life. Go big or go home. Plus at the end, you get a coupon for Meta Appetite Control. And who doesn’t like to save a few bucks.)

I know I sound like a bit of a broken record, but I have been SO IMPRESSED with Meta products over the last couple of months.There’s a reason Metamucil has been around since 1934!! They really have made a difference in my healthy lifestyle goals and overall digestive health and I can not recommend them enough.

Meta partnered with bloggers, such as me, to get the word out about its great product benefits. As part of this program, I received compensation for my time. Meta believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Meta’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

   

Disclosure: I’m a sponsored Meta Influencer, but all opinions are my own. Please see below for additional disclosure.

Why is it that when you turn 42-years-old stuff gets HARD?

I was chatting with a couple of girlfriends this week about how hard it is to lose a couple those few extra pounds that I put on over the back half of 2016. I never remember it being this hard. And then when I was chatting with my 50-year-old friend, she educated me that it gets even harder in a few more years and how she wished she would have taken care of herself in her 40s instead of having to start now.

So, I dedicated 2017 to be the year that I get back on track. I’ve been exercising more, been more mindful of my eating, and I’ve been drinking fruit or veggie protein smoothies in the morning for breakfast. And while simple green smoothies are great on their own, I’ve started adding one ingredient that has not only taken the taste from good to great, but added a key health benefit too.

Meta Appetite Control from the makers of Metamucil.

(Okay, before you go … “WAIT, Kel! I’m not that OLD. I don’t need Metamucil yet.” … hear me out.)

Meta Appetite Control contains 100% natural psyllium, a soluble fiber that works with your digestive system to help it run smoothly and is clinically proven to help you feel less hungry between meals.* Plus, it helps your digestive system become more regular. I’ve been adding Orange Zest to my Tastes Like Ice Cream Green Smoothie and Pink Lemonade Quench to my Triple Berry Smoothie. (They also have an unflavored smoothie enhancer version of Meta Appetite Control if you are just looking for the benefit, but not the taste.)

The Pink Lemonade Quench in the Triple Berry Smoothie is the BOMB. Seriously … it reminds me of a Pink Lemonade Dreamciscle. It’s like dessert in a glass and I love having it a “treat” snack in the afternoon.

(PS: This quiz tells you what kind of snacker your are … it’s hilarious. I was an all-or-nothing nosher. Yep, my snacking is the same as the rest of my life. Go big or go home. Plus at the end, you get a coupon for Meta Appetite Control. And who doesn’t like to save a few bucks.)

I love that Meta Appetite Control is a simple add-on to my smoothie. Just add two teaspoons to your smoothie concoction and it seriously makes a HUGE difference in curbing cravings between meals*. You can mix Meta Appetite Control with water if you are looking for a simpler solution.

So, while I may not be “that old”, Meta products have made a difference in my healthy lifestyle goals and overall digestive health. It’s true! There are so many benefits to adding a little fiber into your life.

Meta partnered with bloggers, such as me, to get the word out about its great product benefits. As part of this program, I received compensation for my time. Meta believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Meta’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

   

I’ve been cold and flu-free for over a year.

(I’m sure I’ve just totally screwed myself for typing those words, but whatever…)

It’s not like I’ve been doing a countdown or anything. I realized it had been over a year the other day while I was scrolling through Facebook. One of my friends was lamenting about “getting sick” around the same time every year (usually the first month of school) and I had to sit down and do the math because I couldn’t, for the life of me, remember the last time I had last been sick.

And that’s when I realized…it had been WAY over a year since I had to blow my nose or lay in bed all day because of the cold or flu.

And while I don’t claim to be a doctor or nurse…I am pretty “natural and alternative” when it comes to keeping myself healthy. (Plus, I am a germ-a-phobe. Germs gross me out.)

So I thought I would share with you my rituals to staying cold and flu-free and hopefully you can try implementing one or two (or all of them) and see if they make a difference during the upcoming cold and flu season.

How I Stayed Cold and Flu-Free For Over A Year

1. I’m an avid hand washer with regular soap. I wash my hands often. No, a better way to say it is…I wash my hands all the time. In fact, the first thing I do after coming home from {insert anything} is wash my hands. In addition, I require my kids to wash their hands when they get home from school, a friend’s house, outside, practice, etc. and before dinner. We don’t use “anti-bacterial anything” …no sanitizer or soap with anti-bacterial wording…just old-school soap and water.

2. I changed up my workouts. About a year ago, I shifted my workouts from mid-morning or mid-afternoon to first thing in the morning several times a week. By making that small shift, I’m working out when my body has the most energy vs when I may (or may not) already be tired from whatever happened earlier. Plus, when I added weight training, I could feel my body become stronger. I know that seems silly, but sometimes we need a strong body to fight off an “incoming virus”. Plus, lifting weights doesn’t fatigue me as much as when I would run longer distances. Again, less fatigue plus stronger body makes it easier to fight off viruses.

3. I diffuse essential oils. I’ve talked before about how a normal person uses essential oils in her everyday life. I’m a BIG BELIEVER in diffusing OnGuard Essential Oil. Not only because it smells good (duh), but also because it can eliminate and control pathogens in the air while it boosts immunity. Perfect for killing any weirdo germ/virus that decided to tag-along-home with my kiddos or me. While I don’t believe that essential oils can cure cancer, I do believe they can help impact the overall health of your home.

4. I use a Venta Airwasher LW45 Air Purifier/Humidifier. We’ve used a humidifier for years. It helps hydrate my skin. It keeps my nose (and everything inside it) hydrated. And when I’m hydrated, I have less “dry nose”, less “scrapes” and I’m less “stuffed up”.

But this year, I wanted to take it up a notch and have an air purifier too. In today’s society there is so much “stuff” in the air. Stuff we can’t see. Things like pollen, dust, mites, odors, bacteria and germs. And an air purifier eliminates those particles out of your room. The Venta Airwasher (or “Venta” for short) did both (humidifying and purifying) with amazing results and reviews (don’t believe me, check it out on Amazon…it’s almost cult like).

Plus the “Venta” doesn’t use filter pads to purify the air. The air is literally washed through a system called cold evaporation. Air passes through the two plastic disc stacks rotating in water. The particles are trapped in the water and the air/water that comes out is purified. (PS: Be prepared to be gagged a bit by the dirty water that is left after the purification process. It really makes you wonder what is in the air.) And when the discs need to be cleaned…you can either put them in the dishwasher or give them a bath in the tub and start purifying water again. Easy, right?

I usually have to refill “Venta” water reservoir every two to three days – but outside of that simple refill, it’s been completely hands off.

And added benefit? I’m actually sleeping better and we are sneezing a LOT less during hay fever/spring allergies (and that includes the dog).

5. I clean high-traffic touch points often and create alternatives to public ones. Door knobs, iPhone, iPad, remote control, desktop key pad, refrigerator door handle, microwave door handles, etc. get a wipe down every week. Any items where multiple people (or just myself) touch it several times a day gets a wipe down. And anything that is public (like those GROSS pens for your signature after you use your credit card), well, I buy my own. So yes, I have my own stylus. I use my own pens. I carry my own water bottle. And I don’t share. Ever.

Doing these five things are how I’ve stayed cold and flu free for over a year. (And if you don’t believe these work..check out this article.)

None of it is revolutionary – but all of it is holistic. These simple steps each and every day that have meant no missed work, no runny noses, no in-bed-missing-things for days on end. I’m not sure if the same set of five things will work for you…but in my mind, what do you have to lose?

Disclosure: I’m THRILLED to be partnering with Venta Airwasher on this post. I truly do think they are the bomb. With that being said, the written remarks and opinions, along with my use of holistic immune boosters are entirely my own. Plus, I’m not a doctor. I’m just telling you what works for me. Want more information – check out my full disclosure statement.

   

Over the last two weeks, I’ve shared The Whole 30 Success Guide For 40 Year Olds (And Why You Should Do It) – it went over the basics of the Whole30 as well as the reasoning behind my husband and I completing this eating plan. Last week, I shared Things The Whole 30 Books Don’t Tell You – it went over how we got prepared for the Whole30, as well a diary of my “feelings” week by week. Before you read the post below, I would encourage you to read those past posts first for a better understanding of the Whole30 Eating Plan.

Finally, Hubs and I completed the Whole 30.

And, honestly, it had been awhile since I felt this good.

(And not because it was done. That was part of it. But, because it worked. That is great news, right? Something that actually WORKS like it says it will.)

When my friends “quiz” me about the Whole30, they want the nitty-gritty details. Did it work? How much weight did you lose? Is it hard to give up wine? Is LaCroix good?

So, I’m going to treat you like my friend and give you the “high-hard ones” and my results on Whole 30 from a 40 year old perspective.

Things I Loved on the Whole30

My favorite thing was the food plan was BLACK and WHITE. I could eat as many “yes” foods as I wanted. I wasn’t allowed to eat any “no” foods (not even one little bite). You didn’t have to count calories, points, or servings. When I took the emotional side out of eating, I could focus on food as fuel instead of comfort.

It broke my wine “habit”. I was notorious for having one (or three) glasses of wine in the evening after the kids got home from school. It was my way of decompressing. Now I have alternatives. Usually, it’s a flavored LaCroix.

I realized I had a “sneaky” sugar habit. My biggest “ah-ha” was that I was addicted to “sweet things” and didn’t know it. I wasn’t a HUGE dessert eater, but I loved a good handful of Wheat Thins or flavored nuts. Once I started reading labels, I realized how often sugar is added into things we eat. It’s mind blowing. And it isn’t just sugar, but its sneaky sisters glucose, dextrose, corn syrup, etc. (If you are interested in understanding more about how sugar impacts our health and waistline, watch this movie on Netflix.)

Things I Hated on the Whole30

Good food is more expensive, period. It’s a shame, but it is true. It is less expensive to get a 12-pack of soda, than a 12-pack of LaCroix. A bag of chips is cheaper than two honey crisp apples. Furthermore, if you live on a budget, you have to find the extra money from somewhere. And that requires hard choices.

I missed beans, legumes and rice. I understood why they were excluded, but I really missed having a side a basmati rice with my steak or black beans with my fajitas.

No wine. I was happy to break my habit, however, as a 40-year old entrepreneur with two kids under the age of 13, there were times I just wanted a glass of wine.

My Personal Results

I went down one pant and one dress size. While I didn’t “measure” myself before and after, I saw a drastic reduction in my waist, belly, butt and torso. All the places we want weight loss, right?

I lost three pounds. I will admit, this was discouraging. I had read about people losing 10 pounds on the food plan!!! Three pounds is like a good bathroom break after waking up in the morning. However, when my trainer said he could tell I lost weight, I decided to focus on the inches and not the pounds.

I was sleeping through the night consistently. Regardless of the top two results, the fact I could lay my head down at night and NOT WORRY if I was going to wake up at 2:30 am unable to fall back asleep was worth it. I was shocked at how much more I was able to do during the day with a good night sleep. Added bonus, my attitude and emotions were more regulated as well.

Transition Since Ending The Whole30

If you don’t miss it, don’t bring it back. One of the key messages I took from the Whole30 was “if you don’t miss it after the 30-days, don’t bring it back into your diet”. I didn’t miss dairy (of any kind), processed carbs (like bread, crackers, cereal, etc.), or beer, so they are gone. And I found that gluten messes with my system, so I’m limiting my intake as much as possible. As of this writing, I am probably 70/30 Whole30 compliant.

I’m more cognizant of how food effects my body. I binged on homemade french silk pie a few weeks ago and paid the price for three days. My stomach was off, my joints hurt, I didn’t sleep well, and I was sluggish during the day. It isn’t that I won’t ever eat a piece of pie, but I now weigh if it is worth the cost.

I read every label. Once I realized how much sugar was being added into EVERYTHING, I’ve become like a blood hound about food labels. Just because it says “healthy” doesn’t mean it really is healthy.

Would I Do It Again?

Yes, without a doubt. Detoxing your body is a good thing. It helps you calibrate not only how food effects you, but your emotional connection to it. With that being said, next time around, I will try to incorporate more recipes because I got bored of food by the end of the challenge.

I wanted to write this series of posts to give you a better understanding of the Whole30 eating program and what you need to be successful. The Whole30 isn’t a fad diet, but a lifestyle shift that can help you lose weight, eliminate minor aliments and annoyances, and regulate your sleep. Is it hard? Sure, but most things that are worth it are usually hard, right? But is it worth it, absolutely.

Recommend Resources for Whole30

• The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom
• It Starts With Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways
• Well Fed: Paleo Recipes for People Who Love to Eat
• Cook, Eat, Paleo
• The Whole 30 Success Guide For 40 Year Olds (And Why You Should Do It)
• Things The Whole 30 Books Don’t Tell You
• Results on Whole 30 From A 40-Year Old {The Good & Bad}